Did you know that young people in East Africa make up over 60% of Africa’s population? Yet, unfortunately, the majority of these young people don’t have access to the resources and opportunities they need to participate in leadership and development.
Despite this setback, these young people are taking matters into their own hands. They are leveraging social media to raise awareness and call on the government and major corporations to create change. In fact, according to the International Republican Institute, approximately 45% of the region’s population is between the ages of 15 and 28, making them the majority and the future of the generation.
It’s no secret that this demographic is essential for the future of East Africa. Therefore, it’s vital to understand the issues affecting them. The public participation ladder is broken down into eight different ranks, ranging from non-participation to citizen power. By acknowledging these different levels, we can work towards empowering the youth of East Africa and creating a brighter future for everyone.
Participation is a crucial aspect of any democratic society. In Kenya, the Constitution emphasizes transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance, and this participation should target all groups in the country. However, despite the Constitution’s provisions, the organized groups in most counties, such as nyumba kumi initiatives and chief’s baraza, do not include the youth.
The Constitution of Kenya provides for access to information necessary to ensure that the process of public participation is open and transparent. However, the challenge of creating awareness, providing knowledge, and skills for public participation is not only the government’s role but the role of all sectors combined. It’s important to create platforms that ensure that the youth can speak on issues that affect them and provide the structure for future conversations.
Unfortunately, Uganda also experiences low rates of public participation, according to research conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand. Factors such as lack of commitment to the cause, tragedy of the commons, and the final decisions being influenced by leaders, among others, contribute to the low turnout. The village council settings that were the strategy deployed towards public participation in Uganda were not inclusive of the youth or the times we are in today.
It’s critical to involve the youth in public participation to ensure that their voices are heard and their issues are addressed. The Constitution of Kenya and Uganda highlight the importance of public participation in governance, and it’s up to all sectors to create platforms for the youth to participate effectively. We must strive to create a democratic society that caters to all groups and ensures that their voices are heard, and their issues are dealt with transparently and accountably.
Did you know that in Uganda, policies fail to address the concerns of young citizens, even though they constitute approximately 60% of the electorate? Shockingly, despite 78% of the population falling within this age bracket, just30% of Uganda’s parliament is under the age of 35. But this issue is not limited to Uganda alone. In various parts of Africa, political leaders fail to communicate with civic actors on matters pertaining to governance, leading to inadequate representation of certain groups such as women, young people, and marginalized communities.
One of the root causes of this issue is the limited investment in youth welfare, protection, and gender equality, which is a testament to the low priority assigned by many governments to these issues when formulating and executing their budgets. National budgeting is often regarded as a technical matter, exclusive to economists and financial professionals, with little relevance to the concerns of young people.
These statistics are a stark reminder of the current challenge facing youth participation in the region. In Tanzania, for example, participation rates in various activities among rural citizens exhibit significant disparities, with men more likely to participate than women and older individuals more likely than younger ones. This is surprising given Tanzania’s predominantly youthful population and the slight female majority.
It’s time to give these young people a voice and the resources they need to succeed. With their energy, passion, and dedication, we can all work together to create a better tomorrow for East Africa and beyond. Governments need to invest in the welfare, protection, and gender equality of young people and other marginalized communities, and prioritize their concerns when formulating budgets. Political leaders must communicate with civic actors and work towards adequate representation of all groups, especially young people who make up the majority of the population. Let’s work together to ensure that public participation is inclusive of all groups, especially the youth, and that their voices are heard in decision-making. Because ultimately, the power of governance lies in the hands of the people. Only then can we truly achieve inclusive and effective governance.
Did you know that young people in East Africa make up over 60% of Africa’s population? Yet, unfortunately, the majority of these young people don’t have access to the resources and opportunities they need to participate in leadership and development.
