Elected Kenyan leaders have been urged to take time and understand the role youths will play in future within their communities.
Abubakar Mohammed Aden, a humanitarian activist and youth leader based in Garissa says that it is important for leaders to understand that youths hold the future of the country.
Mohammed cites there is a disconnect between youths and leaders’ interest which has ended up hurting growth and development not only Garissa but also other counties in Kenya.
In an interview on Friday, the Garissa-based youth activist challenged those in leadership to create systems that favourably absorb the youth into nation-building in a bid to strengthen their role in the society.
“As senior citizens retire from public service, job vacancies within our institutions are created and this is where youths should be considered and bureaucracy stemmed. If they have jobs, they will earn skills which will improve the socio-economic life of their people,” he offers.
He observes that in the communal setting in Garissa, there is high dependence on youths, therefore; the need to factor in their interest on all levels cannot be underscored.
“We have a role to renew and refresh the current status of our society including leadership, innovation, skills and the like. We are the people expected to advance our culture; the current technology, education, politics and peace of the country meaning that we need systemic support by our governance system,” he adds.
Mohammed also called on his fellow youths to be pillars of guidance to the younger generation in the society.
He advised them to offer sound advice “in solving social, educational, psychological and emotional problems” affecting teenagers in the county where radicalisation is prevalent.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has in the recent past emphasised on the need to empower youths to not only make better decisions about their lives but also to learn how best to lead their people when given leadership opportunities.
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