Majority of Kenyan youth are no longer bothered by their tribes, a survey has found.
The survey by the British Council, whose results were announced on Thursday, stated that 91 per cent of the participants said they identified more with the country than their tribes.
Eighty six per cent said the heritage and identity of the country was more important to them than their ethnicity or religion.
Sixty two per cent of the participants felt life in their generation was better than during their parents' times.
"These young people see Kenyan nationality as their strongest source of identity, ahead of family, religion and ethnicity,"
British Council Country Director Tony Reilly said.
Reilly reported that majority of the youth would marry someone not of their tribe or religion.
"It is surprising that over 78 per cent said they would marry someone with a different religion or from a different ethnic group," he said.
The report dubbed 'Next Generation Kenya'
says youths think ethnicity can either help or hinder someones prospects of success.
"Although 61 per cent agree that there are equal employment opportunities regardless of ethnicity, 29 per cent disagree, with ethnic discrimination being felt most by young people in Nairobi, North Eastern and Western regions."
The report however indicated that religious and ethnic tensions were becoming more of a concern.
Though the youth themselves are generally tolerant of other religions and ethnicity and believe their generation is more tolerant than their parents, many (72 per cent) fear the gaps are widening.
The research involved door to door visits and took place across the country from
September 2017 to February.
It involved
4,014 respondents aged 15 to 24 and had a
margin error of +/-1.5% and a confidence level of
95 per cent.
The council said that majority of Kenyan youths in this age group are worried about the massive unemployment situation and would move to other parts to find jobs.
They also gave corruption, crime, violence and insecurity as the reasons they would leave Kenya.
The survey also covered the relationship between sexual favours and the ability to find employment.
The report stated that sex is a means of earning money for some young people in Kenya as jobs
do not come by easily.
Details:
For youths to
avoid early pregnancies and harmful relationships, the council advised that the government holistically supports sexual and reproductive health in schools and communities.
There is also need for education and
support for mutual respectful and non-violent relationships among ethnic groups.
"There should also be establishment of safe spaces where young people can develop life skills and find support and mentorship from their elders and peers on how to co-exist," the report said.