Kenyan youth has been urged to involve themselves in matters of governance, as they have a big role to play in how the country is run.

Speaking ahead of the Kenya Young Members of County Assemblies (KYMCA) Mock Youth Parliament slated for today in Nakuru, NEC Member of KYMCA and Nominated Nakuru MCA representing the youth Hassan Duale, said the event will be a great platform for youthful MCAs to learn about how a Parliament works.

“It is no secret that as much as the people who will be seated here are leaders in their own right, the fact remains that the person they will be sitting next to might be the next Governor, Senator, Youth bracket MP, Woman Representative or member of their respective County Assemblies. The fate of our country’s development, economy rests on our shoulders,” he said.

Blueprint

Duale added that the main agenda of the Mock Youth Parliament is to function as a blueprint of how a Parliament works; its mandate being legislation, representation and oversight.

“As the current Youth Leaders and members of KYMCA want to take MCAs through the House processes and procedures. To make them understand how Bills become Acts, Petitions made by the House and the process of bringing them to parliament, motions-who can originate them and within which timelines.

“Also Public Participation and its relevance in getting accurate first-hand ground information on matters parliament, including budget processes in Counties, amendments of certain Acts due to relevance and changing situations and times, and also for inclusion and equitability,” said Duale.

He added that in the mentorship programme, the KYMCA will let MCAs engage with each other, elect their House Leadership and assign their roles.

“From there we will let them bring out your matters arising (real matters that are important to you) and from there we as your Youth Representative MCAs will take up the matters to the relevant bodies or persons that deal with them. We then intend to regroup again in three to four-months’ time with relevant solutions and answers. Even as we will go back to our respective Counties, some Bills may be actualised through us from this very engagement,” said Duale.

He added: It’s an honour to welcome you here to Nakuru and I urge you to use this forum as a space to engage directly with governance and build networks that will shape your future leadership. Never underestimate the power of the driving force of leadership that you hold as the youth of this country.”