YOUTH REVOLUTION

 

Countries like Kenya,which have a relatively youthful population,stand on the runway of economic take-off if they find the correct formula to harness the energy,creativity and entrepreneurship that young people have to offer.The youth are an economic force that can both drive and create demand for goods and services especially due to the growing digital economy.

However,even with this major advantage,Kenya also faces the attendant risk of ensuring that the youths do not fall prey to political machinations that can turn them into dynamite especially in the run-up to general elections.

  How then can Kenya position itself to benefit from its youthful demographic while avoiding the potential political pitfall?

One of the answers is to be found in the government's big four agenda.When the government directly facilitates investment in attaining food security,building homes,ensuring affordable health care,Young people are in direct line to benefit from these investments.

My view however is that for Kenya's youth to benefit from these investments,we will need to inculcate a culture of self-dependancy.Now more than ever,the youth need to understand that education ought to prepare them to create jobs by harnessing their creativity,starting with small start-ups that the government and its agencies can hand-hold to achieve scale.