Kiema Kilonzo’s message to the youth

Photo Caption: Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda Kiema Kilonzo (left) and ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru (Right) Display a book  during its launch in Nairobi on Thursday December 17, 2020. The book is authored by KBC News Anchor Purity Museo. Also in the picture is Mr Charles Mulila, a director with KBC (far left).

By Reporter

Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda Ambassador Kiema Kilonzo on Thursday gave a key note speech during the launch a book titled ‘You Will Overcome’ by Purity Museo where he advised the youth on a various issues.

Below is his full speech.

SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT BY AMBASSADOR KIEMA KILONZO

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, protocols observed, good morning. With profound gratitude I must say I am delighted to grace this occasion as we celebrate the book launch of madam purity museo.It is always a joy to see the young people fill the academic sphere  with knowledge in which it will impact the society positively. Just as the late Nelson Mandela once said that education is the only weapon that will help us eliminate poverty, it is then important especially during this 21^st century for us to acquire as much knowledge as possible to ensure that we eliminate poverty in our society.

The youth plays a very important role in our society hence giving abundant reasons for the need to be empowered. The youth need to take charge of their lives. The critical question is how then do we empower the youth? As we celebrate the launch of this book, allow me highlight just a few sectors that are key in empowering our youth especially during this 21^st century herein

Political empowerment. We must accept that our youth are the leaders of tomorrow. However the critical question that we need to ask ourselves is whether they will just wake up and ascend into power and does it mean that they are not fit to hold office? It is high time we empower our youth and encourage them to join politics .we need to engage our youths in our todays politics and in leadership positions in order to prepare them for future governance.

Economic empowerment. Poverty amongst our youths can only be eradicated if we empower our youths with essential skills that will enable them start their own businesses and also ensuring that  we support their hustles .much as we may equip our youths with essential skills, it’s important to ensure that we support their source of income. We also need to come up with strategies and mechanisms which will help our youths have a favourable ground in setting up their business.

Educational empowerment. Much as we may want our youth to be free from poverty we must equip our youths with the necessary skills that they may have the necessary skills to make them thrive in life. But how are we going to give them these skills? The answer is in affirmative. We need to ensure that we educate and support our youths regardless of the level of education they join. We must ensure that we take them to school which will be used as the medium to pass the skills which will help them moving forward.

Why then do we need to empower the youth.do we have any benefits that will or may accrue if we empower our youth? Definitely yes there are various benefits that as a society will have as a result of empowering our youth as demonstrated herein:

 Through empowering the youth we shall be in a position to eradicate poverty. Once we empower the youth with developmental skills, will be in a position with the acquired essential skills, utilize them to feed, assist others and even invest for future use, aiding the nation economically.

 Good education standard. This empowerment will help the youth to understand the importance of education that leads to social improvement of the country. When empowered they understand the importance of education and helps uplift the sector. They can donate educational facilities to learning institutions among other things to ensure that we have good standards

Good governance. With the inculcation of the youth empowerment the youth can reject the status quo and pave way for a better future. Today the youth want to live a decent life by willing to take risks which helps in the development of leadership skills. When we look persons like martin Luther king, visionary leaders are noted to have taken risks from tender age hence we need to nature these bright minds capable of taking our nation into a bright future

Crime reduction. The high rate of crime in our society is brought as a result of idle youths whom they don’t have anything to keep them busy and without having any means of income .They find themselves engaging in criminal activities in order for them to have something to put on table and taking care of other basic needs. However if we empower them with needful skills which will help them be active and generating their own income we shall have reduced the degree of crime rate in our society. Therefore it is very important for us to empower our youths for betterment of our society and nation at large.

Therefore in conclusion all of us we a responsibility in shaping the future of our country socially, politically and economically. Let us empower our youths, let us invest in our youths and I have no iota of doubt that our society and d nation at large will be safe. May God bless you all.