Uhuru’s promise to Kenyan youth

Everything is being done to reduce procurement requirements to make it easier for the youth to get 30 per cent of all government contracts, President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Saturday.

President Kenyatta was speaking at the fourth Pakasa Conference at Kampala Parents School in Naguru, Uganda. He said procurement requirements would be minimised to ensure youth benefit.
He was addressing East African youth.

 “America was built by Americans; East Africa will be built by East Africans. When we talk about the future of East Africa, we talk about the youth of East Africa,” he said.
Concerns raised by young people ranged from access to finances, sustainable employment and how to engage in industries such as agriculture.

The President said the gains of technology are key to transforming the region and continent.

“You are more than a great asset; you are our destiny in the flesh. You constitute East Africa’s awesomeness,” President Kenyatta said.

To grow the region’s economy and create opportunities for the youth, President Kenyatta said regional leaders have embarked on infrastructure development to unlock the region’s potential. He cautioned young people against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of violence to further interests of politicians.

“Given your numbers, you have the ability to transform the region. You must focus on electing leaders on the basis of what they can deliver to improve your countries and the region but not on the basis of tribe,” President Kenyatta said.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

President Uhuru reiterated the commitment by East African heads to speed up the process of integration, adding that with proper interconnectivity students in the region will no longer be treated as international students.

Mr Kenyatta challenged the youth to embrace regional integration and consider themselves as East Africans to benefit from the opportunities emerging in the region. “I urge you to enlarge your footprint in all sectors of your national and regional life. Ensure that you are ready for the transformation that is already under way.”

He added that the regional heads were working closely to ensure the cost of doing business in East Africa was significantly reduced.

Currently bureaucracy and protectionist policies and tariffs, which have not been streamlined despite concessions signed by East African heads, remain big obstacles to integration.
The annual conference offers an opportunity for young Ugandans to learn about leadership and management. Pakasa loosely translates into “toil” in Luganda.

President Kenyatta explained interventions made by his government to address challenges that young people face, from which the region can draw lessons. He called on young people to change their mindset and embrace agriculture as a source of wealth and even a worthy career.

President Kenyatta kept off the issue of introduction of genetically modified agriculture into East Africa, pointing out that it was a sensitive debate with equal merits and concerns. He, however, urged that GMOs be viewed in the context of the threat of global warming and need to ensure food security.

The youth, President Kenyatta said, should take up leadership without reservations about their age.

“Never feel you are too young as long as you remain focused; they called me a “project” in 2002 but I remained strong and benefited from mentorship.”