By MN Reporter
Kenyan youths have been urged to take active part in politics ahead of August 9 general elections to end apathy on governance.
Charles Olwamba, a program officer at Amref Health Africa said the recent few numbers of youths who turned up to register as voters is caused by lack of interest in politics and leadership.
“Apathy in youth participation in elections is a big worry to us stakeholders, politics is key in pushing through policy formulation and is a higher call just like religion,” Lambwa said.
He said they have been working closely with youth based organisations in Migori county to ensure youths take proactive roles in politics in a meaningful way.
“Politics is very important in our lives, we have decisions on policies and resource allocation done through politics and youths must take a center stage not only to secure their future, but that of the country,” Lambwa said.
He said the biggest challenge affecting youths seeking to join politics is resources, which keep them off from vying as candidates in elections but said there are other avenues of participation in politics.
“Organising villages and polling centers to agitate for agenda or taking pivotal role in campaigning for preferred candidate with youth agendas at heart is the best way to gain interest in politics and policies,” he said.
He was speaking on Friday in Migori town when he met with about 30 youth led civic organisations from Migori county which are out to champion for youth agenda.
“We plan to organised and engaged youths to push through agenda in politics in ngage, organised way to push away from violence and unrest,” he said.
Christine Alphonse, an officer at Safe Engage Foundation said the biggest agenda will be for youths to first analyse current crop of leaders on what agenda and policies they have left for them.
“Youths should put a scorecard on campaign pledges by leaders seeking re-elections, and analyse those from others before shaping these pledges and supporting those that resonate with them,” she said.
Vincent Mwita, Coordinator at Tunaweza Empowerment said youths in politics face challenges of lack of resources and unemployments which make them not to be fit to vie as candidates.
“We will mobilise and lobby for positions which will help youths find hope in politics and leadership to take part in politics by finding meaning to register as voters,” he said.
