On the 24th of May, 2022, we congregated at the Villa Rosa Kempinski on an auspicious occasion to launch the Kenya Youth Manifesto 2022. This manifesto is a culmination of a concerted effort by forty (40) youth leaders from various regions of our Republic, who assembled and identified various social, political, and economic challenges that continue to beset the youth in their quest for inclusion into leadership and governance in Kenya.
This discussion advanced with these youth leaders meeting with approximately 240 fellow youth leaders from the eight (8) regions of Kenya namely: Central. Nairobi, Eastern, North Eastern, Coast, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western for the regional consultative forums. During these forums, practical recommendations for the outlined setbacks were proposed and recorded for noting.
Consequently, a twenty-two-member Technical Working Group (TWG) was selected from among various economic, social, and political sector experts as well as a section of youth leaders. This (TWG) sifted through the recommendations and rearranged them in order of priority while making the necessary changes in accordance with expert advice.
Later, a select panel from the (TWG) retreated to write and edit the Manifesto. This Manifesto was subjected to a panel of jurists who comprised youth leaders from various regions of Kenya. This long journey was motivated by the desire to have the next incoming government after the 2022 elections prioritize the plight of the Youth in the organization of the Government.
History tells it all, the past governments have not sufficiently given meaning to the youth policies and the constitutional guarantees for the youth. The Kenya Youth Manifesto was later published, hence our convergence today. The Kenya Youth Manifesto, therefore, provides the government and other stakeholders with a concrete framework of twelve demands with a call to action broadly covering social, economic, and political transformation.
The 12 core demands of the Kenya Youth Manifesto are that the government must create at least 1.5 million new youth employment opportunities annually; involve the youth in matters of agro-produce, livestock market exploitation, and value addition; increase youth access to finance capital, and grants; provide conducive trade and business environments; deliver inclusive, high-quality education and training to the youth; promote and protect young people’s health and well-being; increase action towards achieving social protection; increase financial support in the sport and creative economy; increase youth representations and inclusion in government and its agencies; ensure systematic coordination of the youth function; inculcate a culture of civic citizenship by the youth and lastly entrenchment of active public participation.
As The Youth Café, we partnered with other youth-centered organizations like the International Republican Institute and the National Endowment for Democracy in the call to action for these youth leaders in the incubation of ideas and further realization of this Manifesto.
Today, we have invited other strategic partners and stakeholders in youth welfare being drawn from political parties, embassies, high commissions, and members of the public and private sectors to this launch event.
This is in a bid to incorporate them in fast-tracking the implementation of this Manifesto. They each play a critical role in advocacy, petitioning, and lobbying for the implementation of youth-friendly laws and policies. During this event, each institution present declared its unequivocal commitment to implementing this Kenya Youth Manifesto 2022.
The youth, in reciprocity, will play a Monitoring and Evaluation role in the implementation of this manifesto. This being an election year, we call upon the youth to be ambassadors of peace and cohesion in their respective areas of residence and work.
We also call upon politicians and their respective political parties to personally and jointly commit to maintaining peace in their political activities. It is in our country’s best interest to maintain peace during the elections for the sustenance of economic, social, and political progress.
As the Youth Café, we pledge to continue working with the youth during this season to ensure that their interests in the political process are captured. In partnership with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), we shall engage the youth as election observers, community mobilizers, and voter trainers.
We are thankful for the successful launch of the Kenya Youth Manifesto 2022! This means so much to us because it will help young people like us pave our way into leadership positions in government. With that, we can also take part in our country's future and really make a difference.
We hope this starts a new era where all youths can strive for equality in society. We pray for blessed beginnings and fruitful partnerships.
God bless the youth.
Thank you very much.