Take up lead role to bring change, Alfred Mutua tells youth

Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua (second left) takes to the floor with the Kamba secular artiste ‘Maima’ of Kithungo boys band during the Youths Convention at Machakos Peoples Park yesterday. [PHOTO: JOHN MUIA/ STANDARD]

The youth have been urged to play a more active role in politics and ensure that issues that affect them receive greater attention.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, who hosted more than 20,000 delegates at the Machakos People’s Park yesterday, said the youth must stop relying on leaders who want to use them and instead find creative ways to make them heard.

“The youth have to seize the moment since they are the majority in this country. They are strong and should not allow selfish people to play around with their lives,”  said Dr Mutua.

He noted that the youth had the means to decide who becomes a leader — whether it is a president, governor, senator, MP or ward representative.

The convention was organised as a first step to galvanise the youth to take charge of their own lives.

“This convention is about change and hope. Change from the status quo so as to provide hope for the majority of our people. The youth in this county need to rise up and grab what is theirs from leaders who exploit them,” said Mutua.

“Today is a great day that the Lord has made. This amazing and large turnout to the first Machakos Youth Convention is a testament to the fact that this is the time for youths. This is our time,” said the governor.

“I welcome all of you from Machakos County and our friends who I have been told have also joined us. We have youths from Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Mombasa, Taveta and Embu. I have also been informed that we have youths from Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado and even Kisumu who are here today in solidarity with us. Karibuni to Machakos — the place to be, where the lingo is Maendeleo Chap Chap,” said Mutua.

The Machakos Youth Convention was also attended by  professionals from Ukambani, among them Captain Koki Mutungi, news anchors Lilian Muli, Ben Kitili, newspaper editors Wayua Muli, Stevens Muendo, radio presenters Kalekye Mumo and Vincent Mutua alias Chipukeezy.

Kamba benga musician Alphonce Kioko alias Maima entertained  those who were present with his popular hits.

Machakos town MP Victor Munyaka, Tip Tip party leader and former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile, Machakos County Assembly Speaker Bernard Mungata and more than 60 MCAs from across Ukambani attended the convention.

Mr Ndile and Mr Munyaka described the governor as a progressive leader who was driven by the desire to improve the lives of  local people.

Citing a recent visit by local leaders to see the President at State House Nairobi, Munyaka noted that the region had benefited as more than  200,000 title deeds issued to locals shortly after. The State House meeting was arranged by the Machakos governor.

Munyaka expects  Machakos University College  to be issued with a  charter and become a fully-fledged university after local leaders  requested for this consideration.

Ndile asked the youth to vote out leaders who stood in the way of Mutua’s vision to transform the  region.

Yesterday the  governor reiterated that he was not interested in becoming a regional leader but was more keen   to see the region’s economy transformed.

“Those saying that I am dividing the Kamba community are playing opportunistic politics and will be swept aside by the political tsunami of change that is spearheaded by the Maendeleo Chap Chap movement,” said Mutua.

He announced that the movement would roll out development programmes that local people have initiated.