This archive report was first published on 19 September 2019.
The Kenyan parliament's upcoming session will see the National Youth Council Bill (NYC) take center stage. The bill, which has been in the works since 2009, aims to represent the country's youth. However, its implementation has been marred by controversy, with some questioning its effectiveness.
Created in 2009 and enacted in 2013, the NYC was initially designed to give a voice to the youth. Representatives were chosen from the community level to ensure a semblance of organization and accountability before national elections. However, the national elections were marked by irregularities and political influence, raising concerns about the council's legitimacy.
One of the key issues with the bill is the clause seeking to abolish elections for the NYC. This move has been compared to the Universities Act of 2016, which eliminated student elections, leaving students feeling disenfranchised. Similarly, the NYC's proposed abolition of elections would likely have a similar effect, leaving young people without a say in their own lives.
Thirty youth organizations have come together to provide recommendations to legislators on the bill. They argue that the current proposal would undermine the autonomy of the youth and align them with political parties or family affiliations. The coalition suggests that elections should be held at the ward level, with representatives from as low as the ward level to county representation.
They also propose that the council should be organized to represent various sectors, including agriculture, health, business, and technology. Currently, the government is targeting the Girl Guides and Scouts, but the coalition argues that this is not representative of the diverse interests of the youth.
Furthermore, the bill's lack of coordination between counties has led to individual counties setting up their own youth councils, despite youth matters not being a devolved function under the constitution. The coalition suggests that the council should be allowed to fundraise and receive contributions from youth organizations through membership subscriptions.
As Nerima Wako-Ojiwa, executive director of Siasa Place, notes, 'If you want to know how much a country believes in its youth, you need to look at the institutions that protect them.' Strong youth councils in Africa are rare, and the proposed bill could further erode the already limited autonomy of the youth.
