Cord leader Raila Odinga on Friday urged youths to avoid engaging in criminal activities and make use of constitutional provisions to empower themselves economically.
Speaking at Kisii ODM offices after a meeting with party’s Youth League team, the opposition leader said he was disappointed with the route some youths were taking of joining robbery gangs yet the new dispensation of the constitution championed for their economic empowerment.
He urged youths to form groups that could easily access financial help from government institutions and other micro-finance bodies to set up businesses that could uplift their living standards.
“I have been seeing horrible things in the media where many youths are resorting to crime as a way of earning income and that is not proper. The constitution that we passed in 2010 has taken care of a number of your plights and it’s upon you to join groups that can access funding from government and cooperate financial institutions and set businesses,” he said.
Odinga urged county governments to respect the 30 per cent youth and women tender provision to uplift the youth economically.
“The constitution even dictates counties and national government to give you 30 per cent of tenders. It’s upon you to apply for tenders without necessarily blaming leaders all time. Let us make use of the constitution and stop crying foul. I think most counties are on the right track and it’s your responsibility to raise an alarm whenever you feel something is not being done right,” he said.
Odinga also took the opportunity to challenge the government to launch civic education programmes that would rally against radicalisation that has seen a number of youths joining terror groups.
“The government has prime responsibility to ensure youths follow the law. It’s time to come up with civic education exercise to rally against radicalisation in our counties so that youths don’t take advantage of unemployment to join terror groups,” he added.