Youths in Wajir are orgernising themselves ahead of the elections for the first time

By: ABDIKADIR OKASH

WAJIR—A section of youth at a ward level in Wajir County are orgernising themselves ahead of the next General-Elections in a bid to improve political representation and consolidate their relevance.

Farah Hassan explaining a point during the interview in Wajir. He is leading a group of youths in the cosmopolitan Township ward to orgernise and participate in the next elections. Photo/ COURTESY

In an unprecedented move that could transform how young people seek their place in the electioneering period in Kenya, youths in Township area of Wajir East constituency have met more than once in the past two months to strategise on how to get the best out of the next leader they would pledge allegiance to.

“We want to shade off the perception that we settle for hand-outs and drift away from issue-based politics,” Farah Hassan Bule, the Interim Secretary-General of the Township Youth Forum, told Kulan Post.

“Today majority of young men and women in Township ward lack basic opportunities like post-secondary education at a period when the prevailing circumstances allows them to enjoy those privileges.”

Farah was referring to a rallying call that propelled President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto to the presidency at a time when the country was faced with relatively high youth unemployment.

After clinching the country’s top job, the seemingly youthful leaders set aside sh6 billion ear-marked for second-round elections to set up youth fund—the Uwezo Fund. The funds allowed youths and women in Kenya to benefit from the kitty.

“Had the leaders used the funds properly, Township would not have been a drug den,” Farah observed.

The youths selected an interim committee to spearhead a door-to-door awareness campaign to encourage high voter turnout on the polls day and enlighten the community on the role of their civic leaders.

The committee is made up of professionals, elders and religious leaders.

“The committee will vet candidates who are expected to pitch tent ahead of the elections,” Farah said.

In a 76-page report released before the 2013 General Elections in Kenya, the Democracy and Governance Network in Africa revealed that the participation of youths in political process and democratic governance was vital. The discovery was part of an insight gathered from a focus group discussion held in Nairobi.

The report encouraged youth participation in political activities throughout the electoral cycle and voter education. The recommendation of the report was adapted in Central Asia, Tunisia, Cambodia and Australia,

“Township youths have been out of the political arena for so long and we are not settling for anything less than a ward rep and our conscience is not up for sale,” Farah stated.

He added that the group was now tasked to map out areas of immediate need. A rehabilitation center, a bursary kitty and a youth representative in the ward and the constituency is what they will negotiate for if a leader approaches them for votes.

The interim committee is threatened by political brokers that they say are bent on frustrating their role and ultimately, the endgame.

If the Township model of youth participation in political process sees the light of the day, then it could be replicated across the country to root out youth voter apathy and low turnout at the ballots.