Kenya's Ticking Time Bomb: A Call for a Multi-Generational Conclave to Secure Our Future

Kenya stands at a critical juncture. The recent surge in youth-led protests, born from deep-seated frustrations with economic hardship, lack of opportunities, and perceived government indifference, is a stark reminder of a looming crisis. This is not a new problem; it's a ticking time bomb, carefully primed by successive governments since independence through decades of lip service and inadequate solutions to youth unemployment and disenfranchisement.

                                         Raila Odinga addressing the media at Serena Hotel

For generations, Kenyan youth have faced a myriad of problems, but none as persistent and debilitating as unemployment and the resultant disenfranchisement. Our vibrant, youthful population, a demographic dividend that should be our greatest asset, has instead become a source of national anxiety.

Since gaining independence, every Kenyan government has, to varying degrees, acknowledged the "youth problem." Initial efforts often revolved around skills development and vocational training. The National Youth Service (NYS), established in 1964, was envisioned as a disciplined force to equip young people with practical skills for national development. While noble in its intent, it has faced numerous challenges over the years, including mismanagement and a limited impact on mass unemployment.

Later, the focus shifted to promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment. Initiatives like the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) and the Uwezo Fund were launched to provide capital and training to young entrepreneurs. While these have supported many individual success stories, they haven't been able to absorb the millions entering the job market annually. Similarly, the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) policy, reserving 30% of government tenders for youth, women, and persons with disabilities, has struggled with full implementation and impact.

Broader economic strategies, such as the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERSWEC), aimed to stimulate growth and create jobs across the board. However, the pace of job creation, particularly in the formal sector, has consistently lagged behind the demographic explosion of youth. Temporary direct job creation programs like "Kazi Kwa Vijana" (Jobs for Youth) offered some immediate relief but were often criticized for their short-term nature and sustainability issues.

Beyond mere joblessness, the youth suffer from profound disenfranchisement. They feel excluded from decision-making processes, their voices unheard, and their future mortgaged by a political class perceived as out of touch and self-serving. This sense of exclusion fuels frustration, leading to sporadic and now, increasingly organized, expressions of discontent.

The gravity of youth unemployment was starkly highlighted during the post-election violence of 2007/2008. The Kofi Annan-led mediation talks, which brought the country back from the brink, recognized youth unemployment as a critical underlying cause of the widespread unrest. Under Agenda Four of the talks, "Long-Term Issues and Solutions," the immediate and comprehensive addressing of youth unemployment was identified as a paramount concern. The agreements explicitly acknowledged that the "lack of effective opportunities that integrate the majority of Kenya's youth into mainstream economic activities contributed to the destructive role played by the youth during the post-election violence." It called for the development of a "comprehensive strategy on combating youth unemployment, and to explore all possible means of supporting the creation of an appropriate policy environment for the expansion of opportunities for youth in the formal and informal sectors of the economy."

Yet, over a decade later, despite these clear recommendations and continued warnings, the problem has only festered, morphing into the current wave of protests.

To find a path forward, we can draw inspiration from nations that have successfully navigated similar challenges. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, offers a compelling example. Faced with a young, diverse population and limited natural resources, Lee Kuan Yew's vision was anchored in human capital development. His approach to youth employment and nation-building focused on:

·       World-Class Education and Skills: A relentless emphasis on a practical, high-quality education system tailored to industry needs, producing a skilled workforce that was globally competitive.

·       Attracting Foreign Investment: Creating a stable, corruption-free environment that attracted multinational corporations, which in turn created formal sector jobs.

·       Meritocracy: Ensuring that opportunities were based on merit, not on connections or ethnicity, fostering a sense of fairness and encouraging hard work among the youth.

·       Strategic Planning and Long-Term Vision: A clear, unwavering long-term economic plan that continually adapted to global changes, ensuring that the youth were trained for the jobs of the future, not just the present.

·       Discipline and Accountability: A strong emphasis on law and order, coupled with strict accountability for leaders, built public trust and reduced the incentive for rent-seeking and corruption that often derail youth initiatives in other nations.

Singapore's success wasn't instantaneous, but it was built on deliberate, consistent policies that prioritized the nation's human capital, particularly its youth.

It is against this backdrop of historical missteps and unheeded warnings that the recent proposal by ODM leader Raila Odinga to establish a multi-generational conclave to discuss matters affecting the country, especially those leading to the unending Gen Z protests, gains immense importance and significance. This is not merely another political manoeuvre; it is a critical recognition that the current approaches have failed and a fresh, inclusive dialogue is urgently needed.

Such a conclave would provide a platform for:

 1. Genuine Dialogue: Bringing together voices from across the generational divide – youth, elders, professionals, civil society, and political leaders – to frankly discuss the root causes of discontent.

 2. Shared Understanding: Bridging the communication gap between the "rulers" and the "ruled," allowing for a deeper understanding of the youth's frustrations and aspirations.

 3. Innovative Solutions: Tapping into the collective intelligence and creativity of all Kenyans to craft sustainable, long-term solutions, rather than temporary fixes.

  4. Building Consensus: Fostering a national agreement on critical reforms, including comprehensive police reforms, combating corruption, electoral justice, and, crucially, a robust, actionable plan for youth employment and economic inclusion.

 5. Securing Kenya's Future: Laying the groundwork for a truly inclusive and prosperous Kenya where every young person feels they have a stake and a future.

For this conclave to succeed, and for Kenya to achieve its desired future, certain areas require deliberate improvement:

·       Beyond Lip Service: Actionable Plans: The conclave must move beyond theoretical discussions to develop concrete, time-bound, and measurable action plans.

·       Resource Allocation: Any proposed solutions for youth employment must be adequately funded and protected from embezzlement.

·       Curriculum Reform and Skills Matching: A radical overhaul of the education system is needed to produce graduates with skills that directly address market needs, including green jobs and the digital economy.

Enabling Entrepreneurship: Simplifying business registration, providing accessible, affordable credit, and creating mentorship networks are vital for youth-led enterprises.

·       Governance and Accountability: Addressing corruption systematically and strengthening institutions to ensure transparency and accountability will restore trust and unlock opportunities.

·       Political Inclusion: Creating genuine avenues for youth participation in governance, beyond tokenism, including electoral reforms that address voter registration hurdles and promote fair representation.

·       Mental Health and Well-being: Recognizing the immense psychological toll of unemployment and disenfranchisement, and integrating mental health support into youth programs.

The youth problem is indeed a ticking time bomb. It has been given lip service by all of Kenya's successive governments, leading to the explosive frustrations we witness today. We cannot afford to squander this moment.

Therefore, I appeal to all Kenyans – from every walk of life, every political affiliation, every generation – to embrace the spirit of dialogue. The multi-generational conclave proposed by Raila Odinga is not about political one-upmanship; it is about saving our nation.

To those opposition leaders who have condemned this proposal as self-centered or a ploy to sabotage the government, I urge you to reconsider. Your condemnation, particularly when framed in terms of "fanning echoes of war," serves only to deepen divisions and undermine the very possibility of peaceful resolution. This is a moment for statesmanship, not partisan bickering. Our youth deserve a future free from the cycles of despair and protest. This is a collective responsibility, and genuine dialogue is the only path to securing Kenya's future. Let us come together, listen, learn, and build a nation where every young Kenyan can thrive.

Ndungata