Kenyan youth need talent hubs

Sometimes I really wish I was a legislator, and make laws that  would benefit the Kenyan youth in far as talent is concerned. I know out there, are great young men and women gifted in one way or another. I know so because I’ve seen them, and heard about them. And I know what they can do. I know many good painters and artists, footballers, writers, musicians and actors who are lacking the relevant avenues to showcase these talents.

It pains me that the  government can, but hasn’t  done anything about this situation.  It is disheartening and annoying to see the youth wasting through episodes of partaking weed, chewing ‘muguka’, sex and crime. Young people are jobless, frustrated and bored and are living life fast. Bright students graduate everyday, but they go ‘rust’ in villages, because they don’t have anything to do. They become so daft, the only thing they want to know is the common phrase in their lingo-‘form ni gani?’   I don’t know if it is lack of insight these leaders don’t have, or it’s just plain ignorance when they see these young people literally fizzling into destructive habits, while they could help.

Apart from the measly youth fund, there’s one thing the government can do but have overlooked. For one, this country has limited sports/talent centres and facilities. Youth are gifted in various ways, and they need such facilities to nurture their talents, and make a living out of it. The government can also benefit from such a venture too. We need to have more sports stadiums, theatres,  music studios etc, spread all over the country. Apart from keeping them busy, such investments will ensure youth earn a decent living too. The government can then tax them and increase its revenue base. And we won’t have to see bleary-eyed youth spoiling for mischief in our streets because of joblessness.

This mess is perpetuated by the fact that employers have noticed that qualified students graduate every year in droves. Fresh in the industry,  they take advantage of them, by promising good internship opportunities, but what they are really doing is exploiting them- shifting these interns every three months, their intent not really being to impart skills, but increase production of their companies. After three months, these graduates are at a loss of finding any permanent job.  If this trend continues, we’re going to have many heartbroken young people who may vent their frustrations through anti-social behavior.

But keeping in mind, the youth are great managers, the afore-mentioned facilities will help them employ themselves. They can tap their various talents and use it to better their lives.