KENYAN YOUTH: TAMING THE BLACKMAIL..

Economic dictatorship perpetrated by previous Moi and current Kibaki leaderships are the worst forms of social capitalism involving Kenyans. This has given room to suppression of our economy including that of the majority youth in the country. The poor and desperate unemployed youth with scarce resources are being used to finance a larger part of the 93% national budget. Unfortunately the same youth desperately rely on the same self-impoverishing and taxing economy. Certainly, poor Kenyans are being crucified with over-taxation that only benefits the few rich. The current absurd employment strategy through youth entrepreneurship where government is not keen in streamlining the civil service and other corporate institutions, only make potential taxpayers be kicked out from the national development process. The minority who are above 55 years take with them the tax base even as they refuse to create space for the youth to work.

Certainly the more employment there is for the youth the smaller the tax, spending and inequality crises for the whole nation. To get more local job opportunities government would have come up with a regulation to control and balance retirement of those above 55 years and employment of the youth. Also every Ministry, government department, corporate institution and in leadership and politics would have been given representative posts in relation to the number of youth in the country. The approximately 60% national youth population ought to have been reflected in as far as government based employment is concerned. Giving the youth Ksh. 1 billion was the most desperate, demoralizing and debilitating investment that a generation may realize a dream with.

Were I the Minister for Youth Affairs long ago I would have resigned for this political and generational deceit. Why so?

The Ksh.1 billion youth fund does not have a chance to create a wider tax base and hence limited local revenue collection. With this negative tax growth, majority of the youth would only experience a more punishing taxation from government. Everything goes back to government. Male job crisis, instability and immobility among youth have contributed to economic insecurity in as far as sustaining relations in marriages and families are concerned. Youthful men’s economic wherewithal and stability is being tested and questioned by young women. The latter believe that young men are not serious and committed to be in a relationship. Men are thus forced to engage themselves in ‘economic survival tactics’ even as they face unemployment and relationships.

On the other hand, the ‘grabbing hand’ model of managing employment facilities by government bureaucrats for few pockets has been a painful culprit. The ‘invisible hand’ has only succeeded in manipulating the potentially economic youth politically. The recently witnessed ‘red flag’ among the youth at Uhuru Park should alarm government.

Certainly, the youth ought to realize that the price for change especially in an election needs their utmost vigilance.

The marginalization culture against the youth by government should be tackled at a breakneck speed by making themselves not to vote as a measure for ‘Big Brother’ leadership. Youths need rapid revolution as a measure of change for the sake of their generations to come as they prepare to run hard come December. Th youth have to talk before they ‘undress at the ballot’ that to get caught up in the electoral heat of the moment and passion for campaigns and elections.

A psychiatrist once said that, ‘Alienation is the syndrome of our age’.

Regards,
Mundia Mundia Jnr.