Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has called for the economic empowerment of unemployed youth, saying it will shield them from being exploited by political leaders to engage in violence.
Speaking during an empowerment programme in Changara, Chamasiri and Adumai in Teso North constituency on Monday, Omanyo said empowered youth would channel their energy into productive activities that improve their livelihoods instead of engaging in violence.
Omanyo said meaningful economic opportunities were key to breaking the cycle of poverty and reducing young people's vulnerability to political exploitation by selfish leaders.
Omanyo said many young people labelled as political goons were unemployed, lacked skills and were struggling to find opportunities. This made them vulnerable to recruitment into political violence in exchange for money or other forms of support.
“The situation has contributed to a cycle of political violence, with politicians mobilising unemployed youth to attack opponents while others engage them for personal protection,” she said.
“I will defend young people who are being misled and misused as goons by politicians because of their insecurities, because they are our children,” she said.
The MP said confrontations between rival youth gangs had resulted in young people being injured or killed, while the politicians they fought to protect remained safe and unbothered.
Omanyo said some youth who willingly put their lives on the line to protect politicians, and were injured or killed in the process, could instead be trained and absorbed into the National Youth Service and other productive employment opportunities.
She proposed that young people be given opportunities in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Youth Service (NYS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.
She also suggested that young people without academic qualifications be enrolled in technical training programmes to acquire skills in areas such as carpentry, tailoring, plumbing and other trades that would enable them to become self-reliant.
She distributed umbrellas to traders and shaving kits to youths engaged in the barber business under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) during the event to support their livelihoods.
Omanyo urged politicians across the country to stop recruiting young people into political violence and instead support them to acquire skills, establish businesses and create employment.
She said continued investment in economic empowerment and infrastructure would help improve livelihoods and create opportunities for residents, particularly women and young people.
