Nyanza youth urge Ruto, Gachagua to avoid chest-thumping

Sections of youth in Nyanza want President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua to embark on uniting Kenyans.

The youth in a statement delivered at the end of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Nyanza region Vijana Twaweza conference at a Kisumu hotel this week, said the Presidency is a symbol of national unity, urging them to stop chest-thumping.

“We urge the President and his Deputy to exercise statesmanship by serving all Kenyans faithfully and equally, and should avoid chest-thumping and driving divisions.”

Concerning demonstrations, the youth said Kenyans have a right to picket peacefully calling on organizers of protests in the future to ensure they are held in accordance with Kenya’s constitutional and democratic principles.

"We point out that organizers of demonstrations must ensure protests are peaceful and they should take responsibility if their pickets become violent.”

Their stand came days after Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leader, Raila Odinga called off the two week bi-weekly demos, which were called to push for electoral justice and demand for lowering of the cost of living.

The protests led to death of several people in Narobi and Kisumu, besides looting and destruction of property worth millions of shillings.

The young lads in their press statement titled ‘create a conducive environment for dignified livelihoods’ urged their colleagues across the country, to take advantage of the available opportunities in various sectors to become self employed.

“We urge our fellow youth to take advantage of the many opportunities available in the agribusiness sector, climate change, ICT, innovation and value addition, seeking to be self employed rather than waiting for white collar jobs which are few.”

They also condemned the recent attempted raid on the residence of Nyanza NCCK Chairperson, Bishop David Kodia.

People believed to be security officers tried to raid the home of Kodia in Kisumu on Tuesday morning, under unclear circumstances.

However, the move was thwarted when members of the press and a host of people known to Kodia arrived, shortly after they got wind of what was happening.

Kodia, ACK Bishop was away at the time of the incident.

This year’s NCCK Nyanza region Vijana Twaweza conference was themed, ‘Youth for Peace and Dignified Livelihoods.’