The impasse between Nakuru county youths and the County Cec for Sports, Youth and Gender Halima Gababa concerning preparations for the International Youth week in Nakuru County was witnessed on Thursday as the Cec skipped the official launch.
Last week Youths in Nakuru County had raised their concerns concerning the same following the Gababa’s move to have the event banned citing lack of funds to facilitate the same.
It was not until Governor Kinyanjui intervened in the matter and after consultations with the youths it was agreed that the International Youth week in Nakuru County will go on as planned.
During the launch of the event at Nakuru’s Nyayo garden on Thursday, Cec Gababa who is in charge of the docket was nowhere to be seen but Governor Lee Kinyanjui, Deputy Governor Dr.Erick Korir, Nakuru county commissioner Joshua Nkanatha and Chief officers from Gababa’s docket attended.
The absence of Cec Gababa in the event that falls under her docket leaves several unanswered questions.
Youth leaders who spoke during the launch reminded Governor Kinyanjui that the youth docket was paramount in his administration and that Nakuru county youths should not be left out in any aspect of administration.
They added that it was wrong for a Cec to ban an event such as International Youth week that was paramount to the youths in terms of getting knowledge.
According to them, Gababa has been handling ministry affairs highhandedly without consulting the various stakeholders an issue they said should be looked into.
However, Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui in his speech during the launch chose to keep off the matter but instead focused on development agenda and what the youths can do to ensure development.
While regretting that most youths are impatient in putting more effort towards developing their talents, Kinyanjui called on Nakuru youths to ensure they invest time in their areas of expertise in order to be smarter and transform their lives, the county and nation at large.
The county boss added that his administration will continue working closely with the youth leaders in Nakuru County so that their ideas can be incubated in transforming the youth agenda in Nakuru County.
“If you want to be a master in any area you must be able to invest sufficient time in whatever you do. As a county we must sit together with the leadership of the youth to see to it that we incubate some of the youth ideas that can turn around this county” said Kinyanjui.
Kinyanjui reiterated the importance of ICT in transforming the society urging youths to invest in such and innovation.
He added that the county government of Nakuru will embrace and absorb youths who come up with innovative ideas.
“On this day and era, ICT is the way to go and therefore we encourage our youths to be innovative and as a county we will try to give the support we can by absorbing and incubating their ideas as the skills that you are ignoring today is what will change your lives” said Kinyanjui.
Similar sentiments echoed by Nakuru Deputy Governor Dr.Erick Korir.
Nakuru County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha called on youths to be watch and avert engaging or joining criminal gangs.
He added that both the national government and the county governments are committed to ensuring the welfare of the youths is taken care of.
“We know the youths of this country not only in Nakuru are a critical component of our population and they are paramount in achieving the Big 4 agenda. Our appeal to the youths is to avoid joining criminal groupings which add no value” said Nkanatha.
The International Youth week is being celebrated in all the counties and climax will be on Sunday with national celebrations slated in Kisii County.
PHOTO/NGCU:Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui at Nyayo gardens Nakuru during the launch of International Youth Week on 9th August 2018.
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