JUBILEE SHOULD NOT DISENFRANCHISE THE ALREADY MARGINALIZED YOUTH IN GARISSA

Following last week’s demonstrations against the registrar of persons it has emerged that the Jubilee government is out and about to deny the youth of not only Garissa county but the larger North Eastern Province the right to exercise their constitutional right and vote for their candidate of choice come 2017. Successive regimes have subjected this region to marginalization in different ways including but not limited to lack of infrastructure, jobs and many more.

It is such a pity and very much worrying that despite having leaders representing us in the national government that today about 200,000 young men and women are deprived of their constitutional rights and denied such a vital document. The demonstrations show that the people of Garissa County are honestly not satisfied with how the current government is treating its own youth, women and even religious leaders. Many have asked the question for how long will the people of North Eastern remain poor and lack vital services compared to the rest of the country. It is a question that has remained unanswered since Kenya’s independence.

ID cards

Today in Kenya this happens to be the most vital document, a weapon that can change almost everything in the society if well used and taken care of. Our youth, some since finishing high school two years ago, have suffered just because of this document. Their dreams of joining higher institutions and pursuing their dreams have been cut short because of the lack of this vital document. Many have remained at home with no hope of ever finding anything to do given the Kenya Police tendency of taking advantage of such a situation.

It is therefore important that the youth stand up for their rights and inform the whole world of the suffering they are subjected to. The government should treat every single citizen in this country fairly and respect the rights of everyone as enshrined in the constitution.

If the jubilee government is serious on getting votes in northern Kenya then issuing ID cards to the youth should and must be a priority.