Youth participation in governance in Kenya: a critical analysis of the Policy Legal and Institutional framework

Abstract

''No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severes its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death. ,,1 The above quote summarizes the growing global recognition of the need to engage youth to participate in governance at all levels of societal, political, economic and social development. According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Educational Organization (UNESCO), there are over 1 billion young people (aged 15-24) in the world today, which amounts to some 18% of the world's total population. 2 The situation of the youth in Kenya is a point of concern. A few examples suffice as illustration First, in the education sector, less than 25 percent of the youth transit from primary level to secondary enrollment. This in turn poorly prepares them for the job market. Secondly, in the employment sector, 60 percent of the unemployed are youth under 30 years with 1.9 million working children (5-17). 3 Thirdly, in the health sector, one in three AIDS cases are among ages 15 and 30years with prevalence rate varying from 1 percent to 24 percent (the figures are higher for females). Fourthly, crime statistics show that more than 50 percent of convicted prisoners are aged 16 - 25 years. Lastly, many cases of physical and sexual abuse affect about 50 percent of women aged 20 and 29 years from a tender age of 15 years with about 20-30 percent being cases of female genital mutilation (FGM)