Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
http://www.khrc.or.ke/ NGO concerned with the promotion, protection, and enhancement of all internationally recognized human rights in all facets of Kenyan society. The Vision of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) is working towards a Kenya that respects, protects and promotes all human rights and democratic values. The Mission of the KHRC is to promote, protect and enhance the realization of all human rights for all individuals and groups. A two-prongedawaiting moderation Kenya Human Rights Commission Aid and Development
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Broken Link
Average Registered User Rating: 
5.00 (out of 5)
Number of review: 1 Reviews
Review by
Walter Nyambuga
(date: 20-Jun-2009)
Subject: YOUTHS IN POLITICS
Comment: Have been keenly studying what your organization do and am really impressed.
After the 2007 general election in Kenya we started an organization bringing together the youth to discuss ways in which youth serve as important catalysts for positive change and as contributors to sustainable peace through active involvement in the political process.
We noted that as more youth begin to understand the relationship between political power and resource distribution in Kenya , youth involvement in politics is increasing. However, many obstacles discourage youth from playing a positive role in Kenyan politics including the fact that the political environment often precludes non-governmental actors, including youth, from participation in policy discussions. Additionally, youths’ frequent lack of resources for campaigning and the prevailing negative cultural perceptions of youth among the population result in many aspiring leaders being kept off party lists. We also recognized youths’ self-inflicted obstacles, especially their ignorance of political issues and their tendency to be impatient and intolerant of opposing views rather than strategic in creating opportunities for compromise. In order to increase positive youth leadership, we stressed the need for training in management skills and for youth role models to help guide and motivate their peers. Additionally, institutionalizing party politics at the national level will create a more predictable system that is easier for newcomers to navigate and will facilitate youth involvement.
While most people focus on the small percentage of youth who were engaged in violence, I suggested that more attention should be directed at the rest of the youth population who resisted engaging in violence despite their stressful and frustrating living conditions. Additionally, rather than paying attention to youth only when they riot or cause trouble, youth-centered policy should be created to address the needs of youth and provide them with viable avenues of expression. In fact, in most countries affected by conflict, we pointed out that youth constitute the largest single age group, and therefore, more efforts should be made to mainstream youth issues in national legislation and policy. However, when creating youth-specific policy, I emphasized that it should not just be elite, educated, male youth who are consulted and included. In fact, young girls’ involvement in policy-related initiatives is often limited as a result of the prevalence of sexual violence both during and after conflict that makes them less inclined to want to work with their male counterparts. More effort should be directed at understanding the effects of gender, class, and location on youth realities and thereby increase the degree of inclusion for rural, uneducated youth.
Rating: