Youth hopes for 2011 in Kenya

From a dumpsite in Eldoret, David Simiyu, 20, talks about his hopes, dreams and aspirations for the new year. The youth, who missed out on education and other basic necessities, need government help to be weaned away from a life of crime and drugs, he says. Photo/JARED NYATAYA 

By MACHARIA GAITHO mgaitho@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Sunday, January 2 2011 at 20:32

Another year is upon us. A crowded agenda will be dominated by efforts to implement the new constitution; the political jostling around the fate of the Ocampo Six; the stewardship of President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga over a sometimes chaotic coalition; the noise bound to come out of efforts or lack of effort to combat high-level corruption and narcotics smuggling; and the expected din as power struggles ahead of the General Election set for next year take centre stage.

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• Young people speak

Mr Anderson Ndago, 21, is aware of all that, but his priorities lie elsewhere: His desire for this year is to save enough money to open his own kiosk. He also wants to enroll for a course in business management so that he can more effectively run his kiosk when it bears fruit.

Their hopes and aspirations

Mr Ndago, from Kikambala, Kilifi County, is typical of dozens of young people across the country who shared with the Daily Nation their hopes and aspirations, fears and trepidations, with the advent of 2011.

Across Kenya — from the coastal lowlands kissed by the Indian Ocean to the shores of Lake Victoria — young people have remarkably similar stories.

They may hail from radically different regions, landscape, ethnic backgrounds, social status and occupations and even political affiliations, but all of them want first and foremost an atmosphere in which they can build their own future not distracted by violence, crime and ethnic feuds.

Most of those interviewed were too young to have voted in 2007, but were affected and recall clearly the violent aftermath of that year’s bangled election.

They are united in fear that in the run-up to 2012, politicians may again drive Kenyans to turn against each other in mindless bloodshed.

Anne Kamae, from Thika, regrets her vote in 2007 because of the bloodshed that followed. She resolved never to vote again, but cast her ballot at the referendum last year on a new constitution and was happy with the outcome. She is now re-considering whether to exercise her right to vote come 2012.

Meanwhile, she has more pressing concerns for this year. She wants to open her own small business and go back to school. She also wants to watch her health and has resolved to lose five kilos.

Ms Yare Hajj Billa from Isiolo runs her own unique business; she rears tortoises and crocodiles, an enterprise that earns her a living and spares her the anxiety of sitting around waiting for formal employment.

Her job depends heavily on tourism, and therefore she understands just how vital peace is. It is only in a stable and secure country that her business can survive and grow.

From a dumpsite in Eldoret Town, Jeremiah Ng’elechei and David Simiyu represent the dispossessed, the homeless neglected by society and condemned to the fringes of society.

Jeremiah’s hope for 2011 is that a particularly brutal police officer in Eldoret has been transformed into a better person or transferred to an area where there are no street people to shoot on sight.

Jeremiah and David concur that many of their friends have been driven to crime by desperate circumstances rather than love for living dangerously.

They hope the government can do something to help the youth out of hopelessness, including helping with training and small business.