The Government is working on a Bill that will have the concerns of the youths, particularly the mentally and physically challenged, as well as the intersex, addressed.

Youth Affairs Principal (PS), Ismail Maalim, said the Youth Development Bill seeks to promote human dignity and non-discrimination, and will also take care of the boy-child and the challenged youths, who are usually ignored in policy formulation and programs.

Speaking in Nakuru when he led experts in drafting the Bill, Maalim noted that the government was keen on ensuring all the categories of youths, were well catered for in programmes and projects, for inclusivity.

While challenging the youths to change their mindset and take responsibility for their lives, Maalim said the youths were better placed to take care of themselves, as the government compliments their efforts through policies and programmes that work for their prosperity.

“The perception that it’s only the Government that will take you to heaven must change. The responsibility rests on you to take care of your life before the government chips in to create a conducive environment,” noted the PS.

The Bill that will culminate in the enactment of the Kenya Youth Development Act, will provide the youths with a platform to have their voices heard, while they engage in politics as well as other socio-economic spheres of their lives.

“The youths account for 75 percent of our population and this means that Kenya has a youth bulge population that has dragged its efforts to harness their potential in terms of employment and access to opportunities and skills mismatch.

“It is, therefore, timely and opportune that we take this earliest opportunity to tap this abundant asset, through legal and socio-economic frameworks designed to empower and transform their mindsets,” remarked PS Maalim.

Maalim also added that the envisaged Act, will harmonize the numerous organizations in the country, which work for the young people, with the overall structure, paving way for their wellbeing.

“There are many groups and organizations serving in the country, but we have a challenge in their coordination. The Bill will help us go in one direction as we are serving the same constituents,” he said.

Youth Affairs Head of Legal Services, Dr. Damaris Ogama, added that the Bill was to give life to the Constitution and the African Youth Charter, in protecting the vulnerable youth.

She added that legislation on youth affairs, will also enable the State to take a bigger-role in protecting the youths as judicial pronouncements and orders work to protect the youth.

“We need to define who the vulnerable youth is, as we lay bare what their rights are. We also seek to have the judiciary help us make pronouncements and orders that protect these youths,” added Ms. Ogama, who championed for the shift in mindset towards the protection of the boy-child.

The Act will be one of the big wins of President William Ruto’s administration, that seeks to give the Kenyan youth first access to opportunities, while recognizing their position as torchbearers in the realization of the Kenya Kwanza Plan.