Let me indulge you a bit. The outcome of the 2007 elections in Kenya will be squarely determined by the youth, as they comprise a great percent of Kenya’s population.
The majority of our youth are in deep trouble. They are poor, jobless and indulge in theft, violent crimes, drug abuse and many are likely to be victims of the HIV/AIDS Scourge.
That’s worrying indeed. What is the leadership doing to mitigate problems afflicting the youth? What has your local church leader, councilor or your respective area MP done for you as an individual or group? The greatest victims of poor leadership at all levels are the youth. To get them out of this mess will require more than missionary zeal from the churches, the newly established youth ministry, or occasional handouts from politicians.
Get an ID and register as a voter. You must show that you are organized and flex your muscles, numbers and brains. You need to be organized to be able to influence leadership from the grassroots to the top. You should have confidence in your superior numbers and take no handout by the roadside. You should refuse to be politicians’ errand boy.
Put to task aspiring candidates by asking them hard and penetrating questions about their vision and mission. Challenge them to define their values and goals which should be specific, measurable and have realistic time frames. What are their strategies on issues at hand?
Let us thoroughly evaluate the state of affairs in our constituencies and general development. Development does not come by chance. It is a product of choice and putting in place wealth creating mechanisms that reward hard work and spur entrepreneurship.
Development requires men and women of vision to come together to assess why the level of development in their constituency is where it is and what should be done to drive it a notch higher on the positive side. It requires leaders of integrity and energy who truly want to move us forward. Ultimately it requires a populace that stands out to shout “ENOUGH” and demand delivery of results by holders of elective offices.
Today, you the youth, individually and collectively, stand in the dock and are challenged. You must “arise and shine” and show the way out of the retardation. Will you?
Goddy Musoka
Khayega Times
