Mombasa governor hopeful Suleiman Shahbal at a past event. [Photo: Suleiman Shahbal/ hivisasa.com]
Reknown businessman and Mombasa governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal has cautioned youth against being used by politicians in pushing their personal agenda.
Shahbal said youth are an important resource that can transform the country economically.
The soft spoken politician has for the last two weeks been meeting youth groups in Mombasa as he seeks to challenge governor Hassan Joho during the August 8 poll.
“Our greatest natural resource is the ability of our youth,” he said in Kibarani on Friday.
“We must unlock their hidden potentials and so I believe that our youth should not be voting machines but agents of transformation," he added.
He said if elected governor, he will set aside funds for establishing youth centres from where people can train and sharpen skills and talents.
He spoke less than two weeks after President Uhuru Kenyatta told youth to stop being used by politicians.
Uhuru said youth should stand firm and reject leaders out to exploit and dump them.