Youths should avoid being misused by politicians

The political heat in Kenya is intensifying ahead of next year’s General Election. We are going to see the hypocrisy of our politicians in full measure.

Most politicians will feign meekness as they seek to ‘understand’ the miseries of a common mwananchi. This is the time when we are bound to dine with them.

Generally, our politics and voting system in Kenya are a sham. Let us take a good look at the kind of politicians we have and their agenda.

We elect our leaders on the basis of what they give us during campaigns and when they swindle us to repay what they dished out during electioneering, we make noise.

Our politicians know how to take advantage of voters. Most of them are hardly involved in development projects.

The scandalous part is how youths are misused. The same youths who need good opportunities to put their life on track sing names of the aspiring politicians. They receivemoney to facilitate drinking sprees aimed at mobilising voters for aspirants. But all they get are empty promises for help once the politician goes through.

What is appalling is that even learned youths go singing praises for politicians who have done virtually nothing. These are the same youths the society looks upon to help the uneducated and the aged in making good choices of leadership. They are bound to suffer even more from poor leadership that they are helping institute.

Why must politicians and influential people always take advantage of youths? If youths learnt from the past and welcomed change, Kenya would be the best place to be.

Youths are portrayed negatively since they are used as agents of chaos by politicians. It is regrettable that even after the post-election violence of 2007/2008 where the youths were misused, they still have the audacity to play hooliganism roles in Kenyan politics.

Gone are days when I would buy their far-fetched reason of lack of employment for their violent behaviour. Does a one-day rioting and shouting at a public rally bring bread on their tables in their entire lives? In the short run, they view themselves as winners and victors but in the long run, they help the country increase the crop of hopeless, frustrated little adults with no future worth living for.

How I wish the youths in Kenya realised how important they are to the country and lived to make the country productive by engaging in development projects.

Opportunities are many in life, but require a youth to think beyond tribal constraints.

If youths must use stones, let them use them to erect storey buildings.

If they must shout, let them shout harambee!

If youths in Kenya must drink during campaigns, let them drink six litres of water a day, it is healthy.

If they should run around, why not go for marathon races?

Style up youths, you are too important to be misused!

{Wilberforce Manali, Kakamega}

With the next General Election fast approaching, the assault our MPs have launched on the Constitution threatens all gains made so far.

MPs have embarked on mutilating the Constitution. They want to clip powers of the Auditor General’s office and are seeking to weaken powers of Judicial Service Commission in appointing Chief Justice and deputy.

Authority to hire and fire the Inspector General of Police, his two deputies and directors of CID has been reverted to the President.

Two-thirds gender rule is threatened at various levels.

MPs are slowly eroding the gains we have made and taking this country to the dark days. It is upon us to vote them out.

{Steve Wakenga, Maseno}