President should work with the youth

The appointment of former Vice President Moody Awori, 91, to head the oversight board that will manage the Sports, Art and Social Development fund sent a bad signal to the youth.

Focusing largely on the youth, this department ought to be run by a young team.

It is saddening that President Uhuru Kenyatta could not get a young person with the required credentials to head the board.

But although the youth, just like the rest of the people appointed to various positions of leadership, may have failed to impress the President, his attitude and general condemnation will confine them to periphery in matters of governance.

Then, history will judge us harshly.

Historically, the youth have always been wrongly viewed as leaders of tomorrow, mainly because they are always regarded as persons without experience.

But looking at the current crop of leaders including the President himself and his deputy, they all started taking the responsibility of leadership when they were still young.

Denied opportunities

If we continue denying the youth these opportunities now, we will condemn an entire generation to oblivion. This is catastrophic.

Despite their success in the private sector and other spheres, the youth's creativity, energies and dynamism is always overlooked when it comes to appointment to the public service. This despite evidence showing that young people drive the country's economy.

The president justified the Awori's appointment accusing the youth appointed to various positions of letting him down by looting public resources.

Although this may be true, it is not a good premise to justify not appointing youths to leadership positions. After all, even the older generation has equally failed to impress.

Young age should not be of any significant importance when it comes to appointments. There are many youths with the right skills, qualifications and passion to serve.

Sadly, they are always left out when politics and partisan considerations take centre stage in appointments. This is what has defined Kenyan politics.

The government has no choice but to include and work with the youth if the country is to move forward, especially considering that more than 80 per cent of the country’s population is below age 35 years and the country’s median age is 19 years.

The large population of the youth means that you cannot ignore, but start viewing them as opportunities.

Even the drafters of the Constitution were privy to this fact. They realised the urgent need to bring the youth on board and created room to enact laws that create opportunities for them.

Alongside these, we must mentor young people to take up leadership positions and serve with integrity. People who will use their creativity and powerful imagination to serve the country.

Decision-making

Kenya will only become great if it allows the youth to take part in decision-making in all spheres of development.

This is important because these are the people who have the energy and are supposed to take over all sectors in the near future.

Make no mistake, the youth are not a problem or a people with a problem. On the contrary, they represent dynamism and enthusiasm and enormous, untapped potential.

Take the example of Senator Jonson Sakaja. At the age of 28, he guided the president’s party to victory in 2013 general election.

Although party members are in a better position to rate his performance then, the fact that he held such a critical and sensitive position tells something about the potential of the youth.  Most important, it laid down a foundation for him in leadership.

Today, Sakaja is a senator, largely because the President and his party gave him a chance and support.

To secure a better future, we must endeavor to create a critical mass of visionary, selfless and passionate young people who understand that fame and wealth are not the hallmarks of public service. Making life better for all, especially for the next generation, is.

Mr Obonyo is the author of conversations about the Youth in Kenya. [email protected]