Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has called for more inclusion for youths in the national front, including input to the Building Bridges Initiative. Speaking to press in Nairobi together with other MPs representing the youths, Senator Sakaja said young leaders have sent out teams which have met student leaders and youth community leaders in different places countrywide to get their views and contributions to be presented to the Building Bridges Initiative, “We have a raft of suggestions which will be presented to the Building Bridges Secretariat in the coming days.” The latest move follows other calls by youth leaders for more inclusivity in the government’s plans and structure, including a proposal by Lugari MP Caleb Amisi last week to change the presidential term outline.
Senator Sakaja said as a result of the youth public participation, it’s been noted that the young people aren’t interested in positions, but instead, they are interested in their well being and a united country that offers equal opportunities to everyone. He said the proposals they’ve received include more inclusion, adding that any governmental structure should make sure young people are guaranteed positions, “We want a specific target for our young people, in any position young Kenyans must be included,” he said.
He also said the issue of 30% procurement must be addressed, saying young people aren’t getting the required procurement opportunities from the two levels of government, “PSs, Governors are not giving young people their businesses, they are giving their cronies and their friends,” he stated, “If anybody is not being able to give out that 30% procurement to young people they shouldn’t get further allocations from the national assembly.” Moreover, he said young business people who are getting the opportunities aren’t being paid on time. On gender representation, Sakaja said young leaders support the 2/3 gender target, but that the positions women get should be evenly balanced out so that young ladies can also get positions that would otherwise be given to older women.
