{"id":667322,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/667322/?format=json","text_counter":22,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Maanzo","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":2197,"legal_name":"Daniel Kitonga Maanzo","slug":"daniel-kitonga-maanzo"},"content":"Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I had an opportunity to work in the Ministry in charge of youth affairs in the previous Government. This Petition is great because without a ministry in charge of youth affairs in the country, with a Principal Secretary and a Cabinet Secretary, there is every likelihood to cause concern as it has been done. Under the Constitution of Kenya 2010, there is a requirement to engage the youth in the country. In fact, the youth constitute 72 per cent of the population in the country. Therefore, it is a big constituency which should be taken care of by legislation. Something should be done in future to ensure that we have a ministry in charge of youth affairs to specifically handle matters affecting the youth. The youth may not particularly be elected directly as the Petitioner has requested, but there is a way they can be guided so that they can be appointed through nomination. This will ensure that they are represented in the Senate and National Assembly."}