OF THE NYERI COUNTY YOUTH AGENDA; THE ROGUE TRAIN RUNNING ON EMPTY
By Waruguru Wa Kiai.
I write as a young person from Nyeri County, with specific focus directed to the screenshots attached.
Fundamentally, Devolution under the constitution seeks to enhance participatory governance and enhanced decision making by the people, commonly understood by my grandmother as ‘kurehe thirikari hakuhi na marura-ini maitu’.
Participatory Governance reasons that you and I being from Nyeri County,having experienced political, socio and economic challenges,and having a close level of government(county government) we are then better placed to address those challenges. In addition, our opportunities to engage with the county government on what ails or what we would like addressed is not a ‘Nairobi Mirage-distant and expensive’. It is our right under the constitution to have our Voices heard, to have our ideas put across,our grievances addressed…
It is on that basis that young people have proceeded. Youths- individuals and groups- have congregated in various forums to define their issues and probable solutions.One such forum has concluded it wise, to formulate a Nyeri County Youth Advisory Board- the meat of my discussion.
Nyeri County Advisory Board-great Idea. It would present a great opportunity for the young people across the county a solid forum to actively engage and take part in the running of the county government, by ensuring that our interests(I will refrain from the use of the word agenda) are addressed favorably for the overall benefit of ALL the young people in the county.Youth Representation would have a face, a structure,and even offices which now seem to be the most important Objective.
Initially I sought not, the faces behind the Idea, concluding that any good idea is good despite who comes up with it, for even God himself agreed with his former Cabinet Secretary in charge of Music to test Job- a great idea meant to illustrate the working of man’s faith. I had minimal contact with the drivers of the ‘youth Train’ and their progress with the formulation and implementation of the same despite being accused of being at the very heart of the matter,However I have learnt my lesson- the proverbial prodigal daughter seeks to return home,I apologise for believing that the youth Interests in Nyeri County were safe in the hands of a few,I apologise for letting myself believe that all was well.
I am convinced, from the Screen shot discussion attached, that the interests of the young people of Nyeri County are no longer being handled objectively.
I am afraid the Agenda has no name,the Agenda cannot be identified,The Agenda cannot be pointed out.
I am afraid that the process of arriving at the said ‘Agenda’ was not participatory, effective and objective.
I am convinced that the chest beating antics exposes true, the race for the Nyeri County Advisory Board is not precipitated by the need to improve the fortunes of the young people in the county but rather its a race to create desks and chairs and titles and status of a few!
I am convinced that there is no agenda at all!
If you cannot explain your objectives which flow from the ultimate agenda-if your objectives are always fluid and a constant day to day imagination- if your objectives change depending on the weather or based on who is buying tea- then those are not objectives,they are whims,whims cannot and should not be used to craft paths for youth emancipation,in fact whims never create anything at all!
I want to be at the very heart of the Nyeri County Youth Advisory Board discussion. I want to read through all the documents that purport to carry the aspirations of the Nyeri County Youths.If my ‘content’ is not worthy enough to construct relevant reason, I will cook tea and sharpen the pencils that will write my future.I want to take part.
To the Governor Nyeri County,Cabinet Secretary for youth Nyeri County Mr. Nguyo, you must stop! you must go no further,not a word more, not a sentence longer, not a forum nor an office meeting without the involvement of ALL young people from across the county.
Youth representation must be defined to EXCLUDE individuals that will not appreciate diverse school of thoughts, individuals that will not appreciate criticism, Individuals who lie every time to flex and prove their relevance,Individuals who play Messiah in youth issues, Individuals who missed the trappings of power through the ballot and now hover at the same corridors trying to construct opportunities that will see them swing round leather seats with red carpets, Individuals who seek to play ping pong with concrete issues affecting youths from Nyeri County!Individuals who want to believe that its either their way or the Highway-I will take the Highway Please,Cartels who stand at the Proverbial Red Sea Purporting to part the political,social economic challenges ‘sea’ with self interest infested rods- the sea will not part, and truth will catch up.
The Train has left the station, let it go, let it be, am afraid it was the wrong train,luckily it ferried no young person-no lives will be lost.
Yes I want to be in that cartel that goes back to every village to every street, slum, village of this county to engage constructively and effectively with every young person in the county. My friend ‘mtungo’ who sits at Gakere Road with B+ in his pocket waiting for better, must be consulted, the youths in Karemeno and Ichuga must be consulted too-not through pockets of individuals, not through green hills declarations! Consultations must stream down to ward level forums, to the very core of the subject matter.
For as long you come in the name of the young people of Nyeri County, I will speak until I am heard, I will interrogate,question and probe everything that you stand for,I will not be cowed or forced to silence through accusations, the Nyeri County Agenda Will not and must not be misrepresented under my watch,what guts I have you ask,who am I? I claim no perfection,nor do I seek to sit at the throne in matters youth governance, am a Nyeri County Youth you knows better when she sees better and what I see in the attempts to formulate the Nyeri County Advisory Board- its not better! I see nothing but a hurried attempt to secure ‘its our turn to eat ‘.
Do I want a seat,a position a reward a favor? No, am a young person who appreciates that leadership also means being a follower,letting others take the to the helm, walking away and letting go.
I conclude as thus,you can conceive a dream,birth a dream,nurture the dream but for as long you dream for another,you cannot and must not own the dream,you cannot dictate the path of the dream,you cannot tell the dream ‘you are my dream alone’,we must understand the dream to own the dream.
(the views expressed by the writer do not represent the views of Nyerionline.com)
2,738 total views, 2 views today