Kiambu Sub-County youth officer has said unemployment and lack of skills among the youth are key contributors to lack of development and insecurity in the country.
Speaking in her office on Friday, Charity Githinji said there is need for the two levels of government to speak in one voice in addressing the challenges that face the youth as their issues are cross cutting and require a concerted approach.
She said due to unemployment, many youths have become frustrated leading to their being vulnerable to engage in unlawful acts.
“Our frustrated youth are being radicalised leading to high levels of insecurity that are adversely impacting our key economic sectors, including tourism, thereby hampering the achievement of our economic goals,” said Githinji.
Githinji called for a collective, decisive and targeted approach by the two levels of the government, as well as the private sector, to address the challenges hindering the youth from actualising their full potential.
She particularly urged county governments to mainstream youth issues in their strategies, noting that the national government had prioritised youth affairs and put in place a legal framework, policies, programs and strategies to promote them.
The youth officer however said the youth department will do its best to play their rightful role in empowering the youth.
“The counties play a fundamental role in actualising and expanding youth empowerment initiatives,” she said.
She further said the government has already put up 138 youth empowerment centres at constituency level, adding that there was need for the youths to make use of them.
“These are multi-purpose centres for the youth, which combine space for recreation, counselling, ICT, and education and training and provide excellent venues for youth empowerment," she said.