Demonstrate your leadership abilities – youth council leaders told

Written by Daniel Saenyi

Bungoma Diocese Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop George Mechumo has urged the youths elected into the National Youth Council 2011 to use the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to govern. Speaking exclusive to West Fm the Bishop reiterated that the responsibility to create a credible and legitimate National Youth Council now rests upon the shoulders of Kenyan youth. ‘’The youth leaders elected should guarantee the youth of their commitment to transform the National Youth Council into a reliable, youth led, independent, responsive, effective and sustainable institution,’’ said Bishop George Mechumo The bishop said with the enactment of the new constitution he was sure the National Youth Council would be effective and urged the Government to effectively facilitate them to cater for youth interest in the country. ‘’It’s my prayer that the elected ones in Bungoma county or any other part of the country don’t serve the wishes of politicians but focus on the way of shaping this country.’’ believed the bishop Various youth groups from Bungoma County during the launch of the Yes Youth Can program in Bungoma. Photo/File. Articulating the importance of the National Youth Council in the current society the bishop said it will go along providing the youth with a rare opportunity to elect youth leaders who could be viewed as representative of youth leadership at the council but also at the national mainstream arena. ‘’Kenyans are somewhat cynic of youth leadership but the youths elected should use the opportunity to refresh confidence in youth leadership in the country.’’ He added It is envisaged that once constituted, the National Youth Council will be the official youth representative for the Kenyan youth at various levels. NYC is expected to regulate, coordinate and facilitate activities and initiatives relating to youth to ensure that the Government and other policy makers are kept informed of the views and aspirations of the youth. Youth participation is essential in the formation of the National Youth Council to bolster its legitimacy and the confidence of the youth leaders to fulfill the outlined mandate and expectations of the youth. Youth in Kenya face myriad socio-economic problems that include unemployment, underemployment, HIV/Aids, poverty, lack and poor quality of education, poor access to health services, lack of decent livelihoods amongst others.