Nyamira woman representative Alice Chae has challenged county youths to fight for their space in society instead of being misused by selfish leaders for their own political quests.
Her remarks come moments after a section of youths believed to have been hired by unknown opponents disrupted her speech during ODM leader Raila Odinga’s visit to Nyamira County last week.
But Chae has downplayed the heckling, and insisted that it gave her more strength to continue assisting youths who are willing to uplift themselves from socio-economic challenges.
“I have always believed that youths can fight for their space in society by dismissing politicians who are out to misuse them by hiring them to disrupt their rivals in social gatherings. Shouting at me makes me stronger and determined to deliver to my people because I don’t subscribe to misleading youths by giving them handouts that cannot help them in streets,” she said.
“Time has come for them to come up with projects that can be supported rather than walking around to solicit for a few shillings that cannot transform their socio-economic well-being,” she added.
“It’s my wish that those who have seen the light will help their counterparts reclaim their lost glory and perhaps we also pray for them so that they can change their mindset for the sake of fighting for their empowerment rather than depending on politician’s handouts,” she said.
On the intrigues surrounding Mr Odinga’s visit, Chae condemned unknown people who used youths to dump human waste at the assembly grounds and ODM offices to scare party supporters from attending the meeting.
‘I am shocked than some politicians could use youths to ferry human waste to the venue where the meeting took place just because of political rivalry. The resources should have been used to train the young people on alternative means of earning income,” she said.