House debates youth unemployment link to crime

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU
Posted Tuesday, August 10 2010 at 18:01

Youth unemployment, rising crime and criminal gangs was the subject of debate Tuesday as Parliament resumed after a two-week break.

The MPs animatedly discussed the committee report – a subject of two years of investigation to address the proliferation of criminal gangs like Mungiki, Sungusungu, Chinkororo.

The MPs said the groups were ready militia available for hire, to unleash violence, especially, when it comes to ethnic and political animosity.

Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni (PNU) had moved the debate and was seconded by Saboti’s Eugene Wamalwa (PNU). They said unemployment was the genesis of the many groups as youths strive to “get something to eat”.

There was temporary pause in Parliament when none of the MPs in Parliament stood to debate the motion, and it had to take Ms Rachel Shebesh, to step from her momentary job as the temporary deputy speaker, for Lari MP David Njuguna (PPK) to stand and give his views on the report. Mr Njuguna supported.

After that, it was Ms Shebesh’s turn and from then on the enthusiasm showed all through.

The crux of the report is for the government to streamline the employment policies in order to soak up more young people, just as they leave school.

Youth Affairs assistant minister Wavinya Ndeti said the government should give more money to her docket to ensure many youth were taken in.

The report is a bit late as it proposes that the government comes up with the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, something which is already at the President’s Office waiting for his assent.