The Youth Policy and Engagement Framework was officially launched yesterday at the ongoing National Youth Conference organized by the National Council of Churches of Kenya in Limuru.
The Youth Policy and Engagement Framework is a document that outlines the mechanisms and measures for effective engagement with young people.
Kiambu County Governor, James Nyoro, presided over the launch on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was away in Zambia, to attend the inauguration of the new Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, in Lusaka.
The NCCK 64th General Assembly dubbed “wholesome youth for a wholesome society”, brought together the youth, church leaders as well as government officials, for a week-long deliberation on improving the youth’s engagement, participations and status in the Country.
Governor Nyoro intimated that the church, being an integral part of the society, needs to set up new societal norms that will affect the youth, in a more impactful way.
“The youth need to be involved more in decision making processes, both in the church, government and all institutions, I am, therefore, open to work with NCCK to set the norms that will help the youth, to be more involved in building the nation,” said Nyoro.
He further stated the need for more money to be put in agriculture sector, to enable the skilled and unskilled youth engage and not to depend only on employment.
“I believe that, sectors like agriculture are underperforming as the youth have moved away from it and the sector have been left for the elderly persons in the village to practice,” said the Governor.
Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, who was also present at the conference, encouraged the County and the National Government to work with the youth and engage more practically and avoid populism.
“If the County and National Government will not listen the youth speaking now, they might never hear them, their voices are louder now more than ever; the youth need inclusion,” Sapit stressed.
The Archbishop called upon all Kenyan to be respectful of the decisions made by the arms of government so as not to have weak government institutions.
“All three arms of government, the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature, need to work independently for the nation to be strong and for the County to move forward,” said the archbishop.
By Grace Naishoo
