Young people from the Gusii region have been challenged to actively participate in conversations that influence policy and governance decisions in the country.
Speaking during the Annual Delegates Meeting for the Gusii Youth Bunge Sacco at a hotel on the outskirts of Kisii town, former Education Cabinet Secretary and Kisii Gubernatorial hopeful Ezekiel Machogu decried the lack of knowledge by the youth on matters of governance, especially at the county level.
“I get so disappointed at times when I interact with the young people and they are not even aware of how much money is allocated to the county,” Machogu noted.
The former CS said that public participation by the youth in governance processes can promote more transparent and accountable leadership, as they are more likely to demand and ensure accountability.
He added that young people are innovative and can bring fresh ideas to address economic and social challenges that affect them, such as unemployment and poverty.
Machogu further urged the youth to shun politics of tokenism and utilize their digital platforms to increase their influence in development processes by holding the leaders to account.
by Mercy Osongo
