Vijana Usukani for Sustainable Society
August 14, 2024
Vijana Usukani for Sustainable Society
Communique of the 2024 NCCK National Youth Conference
Preamble
More than 160 youth drawn from across the country have met here at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru, during the 2024 National Youth Conference. The Conference, which precedes the 65th General Assembly of the NCCK, was guided by the theme “Empowered Youth for Sustainable Livelihoods”, premised on the scripture recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4: 11
… and make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.
1. State of the Youth in Kenya
More than 70% of the population of Kenya are youth aged less than 35 years. This makes the youth the biggest stakeholders in the present and the future of our nation. The youth cannot and must not be ignored, and all policies and laws should be youth oriented, youth focused, and youth generated.
It is indeed a major concern to us that the youth continue to be excluded from the life of our nation by being left out of leadership and decision-making structures in political, social and religious spheres. The tragic result of this situation is that more than 65% of the youth are unemployed and live in severe poverty. We cannot remain in this condition any longer if Kenya is to be a sustainable society.
2. Message to President William Ruto
Your Excellency, we as youth are deeply disappointed that despite our heartfelt appeals over the last two months, you did not listen to us. The youth of Kenya, who trusted you and voted for you, now feel seriously let down and frustrated. The anger that is building up in the nation is a fire that will burn this country if remedial actions are not taken. Your Excellency, please listen to the youth of Kenya, not just to react and reject their sentiments, but to lead the nation on a path of recovery and healing. We here reiterate the message we have been passing.
One, the youth and indeed all Kenyans rejected the Finance Bill 2024, but the new Cabinet Secretary for Treasury has promised to bring back portions of the Bill without any public participation.
Two, the youth urged you to fire the Cabinet because of the corruption and arrogance they were exhibiting. You not only reappointed the same people, but brought in new political characters who are equally tainted. What is so hard in appointing young technocrats who assure Kenyans of good performance? We demand that no less than 7 Cabinet Secretaries should be youths.
Three, the youth demanded for accountability and good governance, but no action has been taken on those accused of corruption. Even worse, the Cabinet is now made up of persons who have gotten wealthy in questionable ways. This perpetuates the culture of corruption and bad governance.
Four, the youth called for an end to police brutality to enable them exercise their right to peaceful protests. Instead, more than 60 were killed, and the whereabouts of multiple others remain unknown after they were abducted by security agents. For sure every time you give assurance that there are no extra-judicial killings or abductions in Kenya, you lose credibility in the minds and hearts of the people of Kenya.
Your Excellency, we urge you to remember the message of God in Proverbs 14: 23 – All hard work brings profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
3. Message to Members of Parliament
Dear Members of National Assembly and Senators, you were elected by the people of Kenya to represent them. However, you have displayed a blatant disregard and disrespect of the people who employed you. The arrogant passing of the Finance Bill 2024 when Kenyans were on the streets demonstrating against it was an insult that Kenyans will not forget soon.
Over time, both the National Assembly and Senate have refused to listen to the people of Kenya and have indeed reduced public participation to mere formality. We recall that during the vetting of Cabinet Secretary nominees, the National Assembly ignored 1,300 petitions filed by Kenyans.
For how long will this madharau continue?
We demand that you stop passing laws that are against the people of Kenya, and instead take public participation seriously. We miss the days our parents tell us that Members of Parliament used to ask questions in the House on issues affecting their constituencies.
We urge you to individually remember the warning of God in Proverbs 29: 1 – A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
4. Message to the People of Kenya
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Mothers and Fathers, we appeal to you to continue standing up for life in our nation. Let us all be challenged by the question God asks in Psalms 82: 2
How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?
It is time for each of us to make a decision that we will not defend or support the same people who are destroying our nation. We must resolve to reject corruption at all levels, from the family, to village, to ward, to county and to the national level. If we remove the corrupt and unjust people from leadership positions, we will have a much better nation that we will all enjoy living in.
To our fellow youths, we appeal to you to demand to be involved in governance and decision-making bodies and positions. Anti-youth decisions will continue to be made so long as we remain outside the structures. Let us step out and occupy everywhere.
5. Message to the Church
To all our church leaders, we call upon you to embrace the youth and create spaces and opportunities within the structures. The youth are not fighting the church, and we are partners in demanding for accountability and good governance in the nation.
On your part, we urge you to expand the efforts to empower the youth for sustainable livelihoods.
Further, we appeal to you to rise up and once again be the bastion for accountability, justice and good governance just as you did for our parents in the 1980s and 1990s. It is our hope that the church will once again be the sanctuary for the youth at a time when political opposition has been swallowed by government and Kenyans are on their own.
Conclusion
We conclude by reminding ourselves and all Kenyans the word of God in Micah 6: 8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Let us all pursue and fight for justice, accountability and better governance, just as we pray in our National Anthem:
Let one and all arise, with hearts both strong and true
Service be our earnest endeavour,
And our homeland of Kenya, Heritage of splendour, firm may we stand to defend
Signed on this 14th day of August 2024 at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru.
Rev George Mutembei
Nairobi Regional Youth Representative
Christabel Lihavi Jomo
Western Regional Youth Representative
