Kenya youth mustn’t allow themselves to be played by sweet-talking political conmen.
They mustn’t kowtow to blunt promises, snivel at political slogans or in other words, allow to be taken for a hollow ride by smiling, dressed to appear youthful conmen.
They shouldn’t also be cheated with the “one of our own” narratives. How many “youths” you last elected have stood out and made a difference? How many have embarrassed you as a youth by masterminding the gravy train?
Being a youth isn’t a qualification that entitles you to anything. It is a passage; make the most out of it but not as badge of honour sheered on your forehead. Demand what you’re owed as a Kenyan. Display maturity, for that is why you’ll be taken seriously. Pick on issues that you can organise around.
The election year is with us and with it, political fever is rising rapidly.
Disorganised youths will find themselves galloping after phantoms. Why am I sounding like I’m berating the youth?
The young people must ride with candidates, especially the presidential wannabees, who have foolproof agenda for them. This may range from policies that address education, health, infrastructure and technology to that clearly outline how one will deal with runaway unemployment.
The youth shouldn’t run around with candidates who attend to momentary gratification. They should avoid the tentative and demand the sustainable. They must ask the hard questions: For instance, how will the candidate’s proposal be implemented?
The youth shouldn’t take a politician’s word for truth but find alternative truth and challenge the candidates because they are justified to ask serious questions. In any case, they’re demographically the leaders.
Well, how bad is unemployment?
Unemployment rate in Kenya is galloping at a high of three per cent. These are 16 million Kenyans who want to work but cannot find jobs. Among them are those who have graduated into the job market, workers who’ve lost jobs, workers who lost jobs due to the economic downturn and the Covid-19 menace and skilled workers who can’t just find a job. Majority of those affected are the youth.
As at the 2019 census, 35.7 million (75.1 per cent) Kenyans are below 35 years. Of these, 25 per cent or 9.4 million are aged 18-34 years. Those below 15 years make up 43 per cent or 20 million of the population.
Youth unemployment alone is at three million of the total 24 million labour force. Those aged 15 to 24 years constitute the largest contingent of these three million unemployed.
This is a nursery for social unrest, a menace that is increasing dependency rate, and deterring savings and investment.
When evaluating their presidential candidate, the youth must ask themselves who among the aspirants is providing the best deal for the 20 million under 15 years?
This will translate to issues around education, health, food security and innovation. It will mean the best deal in clamping down the runaway unemployment among 9.4 million youths.
Some of the weighting youth could use to ensnare con politicians is how they intent to resuscitate Kenya’s largest employer – the Medium Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises - so that the sector can take in more youth. There are 7.4 million MSMEs in Kenya.
CREATING JOBS
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, MSMEs constitute 98 per cent of all business in Kenya, creating 30 per cent of the jobs annually and contributing three per cent of the GDP.
The sector has unfortunately been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic and over two million enterprises have closed shop, leaving five million workers jobless.
Of the 7.4 million MSMEs, only 1.56 million are licensed. The candidate who provides the “How” to net the unlicensed 5.85 million MSMEs into the formal economy to provide jobs is the one youth can hobnob with.
But we’ve a strained economy. As an illustration, at June 2021, out of nine million NHIF subscribers, two million fell out of because they couldn’t afford.
Many more will slip through worsening a fickle healthcare provision system. The candidate who has an elaborate plan on creating the elusive conducive, and enabling regulatory environment for MSMEs to thrive, be productive and profitable should be the youth ideal.
I have been listening carefully to self-declared presidential aspirants outline their economic agenda. I must confess that I find Deputy President William Ruto’s bottoms-up offer, a work of fiction.
It’s also mockery because we’re where we’re with a bankrupt economy because of the poverty of economic management of Jubilee government where Ruto is Number Two. He is among those who dug us into a deep hole and is now throwing a coin to us to come out without the assistance of a rope or ladder.
In comes Raila Odinga mumbling Facebook page full of disjointed titbits on the economy that can easily be traced to the defunct NASA manifesto. I wouldn’t quite suggest plagiarism, but stupefied borrowing by an aspirant who’s out of his breath on matters economy.
Meanwhile I’ve been listening keenly to a persuasive online video titled Musalia Mudavadi’s Great Speech on the Economy.
In the video, Mudavadi introduces his economic agenda under the banner Uchumi Bora, Pesa Mfukoni.
In the presentation, Mudavadi outlines three practical steps for accelerated economic recovery, revival and growth that create jobs, jobs and more jobs. Watching Mudavadi glide through simplified proposals on the economy in this 30-minutes video, you get the feeling he’s an aspirant who’s comfortable in his skin when it comes the economy.
He fluently and effortlessly takes us through his agenda that is hinged on Uchumi Bora, Uongozi Bora (good governance), Huduma Bora [efficient services], Uhusiano Bora [good relations] and Kuimarisha Ugatuzi [strengthening devolution].
The impression Mudavadi creates is his dour personality bestrides a deceptively strong character who has thought through what he wants done. Kenyans may want to pay attention to what he is saying.
The writer is Musalia Mudavadi’s spokesman
