Uhuru launches volunteer initiative

President Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday launched a volunteer programme that seeks to promote national cohesion, improve primary school education and create enriching opportunities for fresh university graduates.

The Future Leaders Programme will inculcate a sense of patriotism and unity among youths, said the Head of State during the launch at State House, Nairobi.

“It is through such an initiative that we will make people understand that we are one people with shared values, shared objectives and shared needs.

“It is only through working together that we will be able to resolve some of the problems that we face as a country,” said the President.

The first batch of 150 volunteers, who were trained for two weeks, will be sent to teach in primary schools in eight counties — West Pokot, Kilifi, Machakos, Garissa, Nyeri, Samburu, Kisumu and Busia. The programme will later be extended to all the 47 counties.

NEGATIVE ETHINICITY

Mr Kenyatta said the initiative will expose young people to Kenya’s rich cultural heritage and enable them to appreciate the country’s diversity as a source of unity, not division.
He urged youths to play a leading role in rooting out negative ethnicity that is dragging the country backwards.

“I hope you will be trailblazers, who will set an example and encourage others to see what beauty there is in calling yourselves Kenyans and at the same time recognise that our rich diversity is a thing that we should all cherish,” the President told the volunteers. He emphasised that the country cannot achieve its development goals without national unity.

It is difficult to achieve national cohesion if youths are not exposed to the country’s diverse cultural heritage, he added.

“Our culture should not be a source of division. Our diversity should not be a source of division. These are things that should enrich us, instead of dividing us,” said Mr Kenyatta.

At the same time, Deputy President William Ruto said the programme will give youths a chance to know their country better and promote national cohesion.

“The programme will enable you to appreciate that while it is good to belong to your village, it is better to belong to your county, but it is best to belong to your country,” the Deputy President told the volunteers.

Japan’s Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Tatsushi Terada, said his government provided Sh355 million to finance the programme in its first year. (PSCU)