This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
On July 20, 2019, a stowaway fell off a Kenya Airways plane headed to Heathrow, sparking a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by young people in Kenya.
According to experts, only one in four flight stowaways survive the journey, and the incident highlights the desperation and hopelessness among Kenyan youth.
As the nation grapples with the complexities of the matter, involving civil aviation authorities, airlines, and governments across international boundaries, it raises questions about the state of affairs for Kenyan youth.
Is it possible that there are adult Kenyans who remain completely undocumented, and if so, what does this say about the effectiveness of the National Identity card system?
The incident also raises questions about the level of desperation or want that would lead a young Kenyan to carry out such a suicidal mission, and what other indicators the government and society are waiting for to wake up to the realization that the youth in this country are crying for help.
Every single thing in Kenya seems to generate a great debate, but not a lone young man who fell from the sky. He should not be looked at in isolation, but as a representation of many youth.
Or are Kenyan youth so ignorant that they are not completely aware of the dangers associated with such misadventures, which ultimately end up in death or irreparable bodily harm and multiple health issues?
The incident has sparked a national conversation about the need to address the root causes of youth desperation and hopelessness, and to harness the daredevil energy of young people to accrue better results.
