Govt commits to work with youth to ensure transparent polls
Govt commits to work with youth to ensure
transparent polls
THE National Government has fully reiterated its
commitment in working with the youth across the country to ensure a free, fair
and transparent election process.
Principal Secretary in the
State Department for ICT and Innovation Jerome Ochieng says as the country
approaches the August 9 General Election, it is good to fully recognize the
role played by the youth during this electioneering period to realize peaceful
elections.
Addressing the youth today in Kisumu during the National Youth Voter Educators
Training Exercise launch, the Principal Secretary has urged the youth to be very impartial in the delivery of the tasks
ahead of them and to ensure that the right message is delivered to young people
across the country.
The PS says according
to the 2019 National Census, nearly 70% of Kenya’s population is below the age of 35 and the youth
(those aged between 18 and 35 years) account for 30% of the total population.
He says these statistics are telling because
it means that young people have the opportunity to greatly influence how
they are governed during the upcoming general elections and over the
foreseeable electoral cycles, than at any other time in our history as the
youth population is expected to continue growing exponentially.
“As Government, we recognize
this great potential
that the youth possess and seek to harness their zeal, passion and energy to
positively impact society as we exercise our right to vote in the upcoming
elections. Article 55 on the Bill of
Rights obliges the Government to take measures, including affirmative
action programmes, to ensure that the youth access relevant education and
training, have opportunities to associate, are represented and participate in
political, social and economic activities, have access to employment and are
protected from harmful retrogressive practices and exploitation,” PS says.
The PS adds that in order to
promote these provisions, the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, in collaboration
with various stakeholders, developed the Kenya Youth Development Policy (KYDP,
2019) as part of its commitment to promote a greater cohesive society,
equitable, inclusive and participatory economic and social processes for the
youth.
The PS says the overarching
objective of this policy is to promote holistic empowerment and participation of the
youth in socio-economic and political development and encourages the youth to
engage in activities that protect democracy and the rule of law while promoting
patriotism and national loyalty.
“This therefore
prioritizes meaningful youth engagements and interventions that are consistent with the
country’s development priorities, the Constitution, international conventions
and global trends relating to the youth agenda including; supporting
transformative leadership, mentorship, participation, and representation; Youth
mainstreaming and inclusion in social, economic and political initiatives; supporting
information, communication, and technology (ICT) development and innovation;
and Curbing radicalization and violent extremism,” the PS adds.
He further says this will be
achieved by adopting a coordinated approach that bring together various stakeholders to
develop evidence-based programmes and youth-led initiatives to solve the
problems affecting them.
“It is for this
reason that we encourage forums such as this that seek to empower our young people to fully
participate and receive the requisite information and knowledge that will allow
them to exercise their right to vote in a peaceful manner,” the PS further
says.
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