This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
On December 21, 2019, the Youth Congress, a group advocating for youth rights, urged the government to involve youth in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) to ensure its success.
Convener of the Youth Congress, Raphael Obonyo, emphasized that youth are Kenya's greatest asset, representing dynamism, talent, and energy that must be harnessed in all processes for the country to make real progress.
Obonyo noted that although President Uhuru Kenyatta and Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga should be applauded for the initiative to address some of the national challenges and build a united Kenya, they are deeply concerned that youth are not represented in the task force and the proposed committee of experts.
He added, 'Youth have not been meaningfully involved in the process. Lack of youth engagement is a hindrance to real progress. As we continue with the initiative of Building Bridges to a New Kenyan Nation, we call on all stakeholders to leave no youth behind.'
President Kenyatta had earlier extended the term of the Building Bridges taskforce, which will now steer the next phase of the process, involving expanding and guiding public participation, and structuring recommendations by Kenyans into implementable action plans.
