UHURU/ RUTO are YOUTH? NO WAY …… Here is why the Kenyan YOUTH love and will vote for RAILA ODINGA

The Kenyan DAILY POSTEditor's Choice10:10

By Omondi Amos KOgal

The jubilee coalition is trying to project itself as a youth’s party. With zeal and zest, they are trying to appear as “hustlers” and “masuffers”.

Based on media reports, the Jubilee leaders have assembled a campaign ‘swag’ targeting the youth, running in billions. It is reported the ‘hustlers’ and ‘masufferers’ have set aside over 15 choppers and several high-end range rovers.

On the other hand, getting a youth aged between 16 – 30 years who owns assets in Kenya is ladder-proof. The list of the rich people in the country hardly comprises of a youth, it's a list left for the aged who were at some moment powerful politicians in the Kenyan government. It’s my belief that if it were not of the government money and corruption involved then they wouldn’t be in the count. This is how self imposed “masufferers” and “hustlers” acquired un accounted for wealth.

It’s a fact. The decision of who the next rulers are is in the hands of the youths because of their representation in the Kenyan population estimated at 64%. Unless the jubilee leaders headed by Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, tells us the source of their funds, the true youths of this country will assume they got their money through political patronage, corruption or drug dealings and thus cannot meet chapter six of the constitution. Its will not be a walk in the park to walk away with the youth tag, based on the “age”. Youths will resists such attempts.

The youth of Kenya need someone who can inspire, motivate, and relate to their situation, suffered for them and he/she must be someone who has committed his entire life for the interest of all Kenyans. Unfortunately, of all the ‘youthful’ jubilee leaders, none of them fits the bill. Only Raila Amolo Odinga ideas resonate well with the youths. It is, therefore, not surprising, that majority of Kenyan youths have made up their minds that the president of Kenya will be Raila Odinga.

When you talk of taking Wifi and laptop to a class one student whose mother has never touched 1000/-, then you are confirming to Kenyans that you are out of touch with the reality facing Kenyans. Kenyans youths need jobs! Jobs! And Jobs!

It is obvious Jubilee leaders do not understand the kind of jobs Kenyan youths do for a living. This could be explained by the fact that, while Raila Amolo Odinga was eating raw ugali and beans in Kamiti fighting for Kenya and the future of the youths, some of them were busy humming sweet songs about Moi or expanding the illegally acquired family business.

Allow me to make them understand some facts about Kenya.

Kenya is one of the countries where people live below ksh100 a day, jobs available for the youths are so startling, hectic, and tiresome and discouraging, these include:

1. Bicycle taxi popularly known as boda-boda, which one can border for 1 km and pays the rider 50bob.
2. Building and construction which pays between 100-200 shillings.
3. Many hawkers are selling goods with little value and are hard pressed to sell, they in the end making a profit of thereabout 100bob.

The unemployment situation has forced many into depravities; majority are ladies into commercial sex work and accommodating more than one lover at a time in their relationship to enable them handle their basic needs (passive prostitution), a risk that can lead to acquisition of sexual transmitted infection including HIV. Perhaps, this can also explain high HIV/AIDS prevalence in the among the youths. On the other side of the coin, young men are left in the manipulative palms of older well to do widows, unusually seen in the African community, at some point they get married and dreams get shuttered.

Kenyan youths ‘hustlers’ and ‘massufers’ aren’t receptive to the institution of marriage, stating lack of finance to support a family as a reason, they are meanwhile waiting for better jobs to enable them undertake their dreams, some are even university graduates. Considering the current life expectancy, let’s say, 40 years and other life contributing factors which are commonly in Africa, some die even before getting married still waiting for jobs.

All these problems affecting the Kenyan youths has been a factor by poor leadership, corruption, nepotism, historical injustice.

Of all the presidential candidates:

1. It is only Raila Odinga who has been jailed for fighting poor leadership, corruption and historical injustices.
2. It is only Raila Odinga who has suffered the most for a just society.
3. It is only Raila Odinga who can make the current situation of Kenyan youth change for the better.
4. It is only Raila Odinga, who has sleep hungry, going without food for several days for our sake

It is my hope that the Kenyan youth will choose Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga as their next president on 4^th March 2013.

Omondi Amos KOgal “Lee Makwiny”

National Coordinator,  ODM Youth 2012