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{
    "id": 975715,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/975715/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 97,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Sankok",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 78,
        "legal_name": "Cecily Mutitu Mbarire",
        "slug": "cecily-mbarire"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity for my input to such an important Bill. Allow me to start by congratulating Hon. Gideon Keter who is a representative of the youth. He is a nominated Member like me, who represents the youth of this country in the National Assembly. He represents a huge chunk of our population, about 31.5 million Kenyans who are under the age of 35. I have to put my input on behalf of who I represent in this House, who are youths with disability. I want Hon. Keter to note that there are many youths with disabilities and they need to be represented as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Kenya ratified in 2008. The clarion call in the United Nations is “nothing about us without us.” So, we need to be represented as persons with disabilities. Hon. Keter should ensure that in the national office of the National Youth Council that is constituted by 11 members, there is one youth with disability. In every county, there must be representation of one youth with disability in every county committee, so that when issues of the youth are being discussed, issues of the youth with disabilities are also brought on board. Section 4(a) of the National Youth Council Act, 2009, gives the functions of the National Youth Council as: “(a) regulate and co-ordinate activities and initiatives relating to the youth being undertaken by youth groups, youth focused community-based organisation, non-governmental organisations, civic society movements and other organisations”. This is to ensure that players in the youth space are accountable for the huge resources they receive from donors. We should be aware of the fact that some brokers have commercialised the issue of youth even within the youth themselves. You have seen what is going on, on the social media on the issue of the BBI. The youth were being ferried and offered Ksh500 to attend some rallies as cheerers. We want youth groups to be regulated. Therefore, the National Youth Council should be given the mandate to grant accreditation to youth organisations and youth workers, in promoting professionalisation of the youth work. This shall ensure that organisations that violate or expose youth to harmful practices are put in check as well as youth workers who do not operate as per Article 55 of the Constitution of Kenya. As much as we want the National Youth Council, we also need it to regulate other youth activities. There should be genuine, free and fair elections, so that the youths who will represent their fellow youths have been given the mandate by the youth themselves. We should not have politicians handpicking a few loyal youths who can be misused in political rallies and during the BBI rallies to sing certain issues to do with BBI, for example, “ Nikisema BBI, sema baba .” Such issues are not related to bringing this country together in inclusivity. Lastly, I would like Hon. Keter to note that as the youth support the BBI, there must be inclusivity at the apex of leadership. If the president is a man, the deputy president should be a The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}