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The Fursa in Democracy challenge is a National Youth Council (NYC) initiative aimed at increasing youth participation and role in democratic election processes. This stems from recognizing the role of youth in social and economic development, as well as self-government, through active participation in youth policy formulation that ensures inclusivity.

This challenge provides a platform for on-demand training, mentorship, partnership, and connections to Kenyan youth.

NYC has actively and successfully developed two county youth policies, for Tana River and Busia counties, in its capacity as the entity tasked with advocating for the rights and opportunities of youth to associate, be represented, and participate in the political, social, economic, and other spheres of life.

The first round of the Fursa in Democracy challenge in NYC concentrated on engaging young people through virtual sessions on Zoom and Vybez Radio, where various experts were interviewed on chosen topics geared toward young people. We were able to create an atmosphere where the young (50 per county) actively engaged with stakeholders, including KIPPRA and the Council of Governors (Professionals and policy experts), in the design and development of the draft county youth policies through these channels. With the assistance of motivated youth in the counties, this resulted in the rough drafts of 17 county youth policies, which were completed during the 8-week engagement. Nairobi, Nyamira, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Embu, Makueni, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Kakamega, Nandi and Bungoma.

The three-day event, held between June 21st and June 23rd, 2022, was themed ‘Celebrating Public Service Transformation: Ten Years Journey and Beyond’ and was led by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Public sector organizations were given the opportunity to reflect on their successes and devise appropriate solutions to the challenges that abound in service delivery processes.

The APSD event also gave public servants the opportunity to promote values such as professionalism, accountability, responsiveness, ethics, and performance in the delivery of public services.

The APSD hosted panel discussions with various government agencies on the role of youth in fostering innovation to deliver inclusive and equitable services, which was the focus of the first day of African Public Service Week.

Dr Rose Ngugi, CEO of KIPPRA, moderated the first panel discussion. Ms Viridiana Wasike, HOD, Partnership and Resource Mobilization at the National Youth Council, addressed the challenges that youth face in terms of inclusivity in decision-making processes ranging from the local to the national levels, as well as some of the solutions that can be implemented to encourage innovation in the delivery of public services.

Youth may promote innovation to provide inclusive and equitable public services by using user-centric approaches.

The National Youth Council supports venues that enhance the voice of young people, according to Ms. Viridiana Wasike.

The topic of the second panel discussion, which was on utilizing young people’s potential for digital transformation in service delivery, was handled by Prof. Nura Mohamed, Director of Finance and Administration at the Kenya School of Government.

Guest speakers later strolled through a variety of exhibitions put out by various government agencies. They acknowledged the efforts made by a number of young people to use digital solutions to address global issues.

Through the training of 1 million software developers throughout Africa, the Power learning project program seeks to empower youth. High-profile guests, representatives from the administration, social media influencers, innovators, etc. were present. The Cabinet Administrative Secretary for youth affairs, Ms. Nadia Abdallah, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Council, Mr. Roy Sasaka, Associate Vice Chancellor Prof. Margaret Hutchinson, Adanian Labs, Chief Inspiration Officer John Kamara, and other stakeholders were among the keynote speakers.

Participants in the entertaining event that preceded the launch got to sample a variety of software engineering-based technical developments. They received a variety of gifts as well.

John Kamara, on the other hand, demonstrated the dedication of his organization to supporting people who have a passion for software development. He emphasized in particular how he was able to teach himself to code and how doing so allowed him to visit more than 100 countries worldwide.

PLP’s chief growth and operations officer, Mumbi Ndugu, explained that the organization makes education accessible through a virtual learning platform that caters to students in Africa who are 18 years of age and older and are especially interested in learning soft skills, programming languages, entrepreneurship, and employability. The PLP was appreciative at the sizable turnout during the launch.

The ISACA Kenya Chapter’s Mr. Anthony Muiyuro demonstrated the range of technological opportunities that improve global competitiveness. However, in order to advance and prosper, one must embrace a sense of urgency. John Kamara, on the other hand, streamlined the collaboration between Adanians Labs and PLP 1millionDevProject in order to realize the Pan African Dream of creating useful value as a result of the fourth industrial revolution.

The PLP 1 Million Developers project-aligned Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology stressed the importance of embracing technology to address pressing issues confronting young people, like unemployment.

Through a representative, the CEO of the National Youth Council of Kenya praised the PLP initiative for its contribution to digitising Africa by educating, honing, and improving young people’s digital skills. He advised every youth to join the project.

The 6th edition of the Nairobi Innovation Week took place from 26th – 28th April 2022 at the Great Court , Hyslop Carpark at University of Nairobi Main Campus.

The objective of the Nairobi Innovation Week  provided an opportunity for youth and different stakeholders to expand their world view and explore other sectors, create new professional networks and experience the critical engagement that comes with co-creation of knowledge and inventions.

Among the representatives will be from the National Youth Council in partnership with University of Nairobi delegates,Youth Fund representatives, decision-makers,State Department for Youth Affairs representatives, development economists, policymakers, ambassadors, negotiators,  advocates and among other stakeholders.

Learning institutions were recommended to undertake thorough curriculum review to ensure training & courses offered in colleges & universities are “Market tailored.”

It also created a forum for Youth to showcase their creative ideas through innovations.

“Our culture is the bedrock of who we are as Kenyans, who we are as various tribes, and how that unites us.”

A three-day opening ceremony was held on Main Campus, which is situated in the heart of Kisii town, to kick off the eighth iteration of the cultural festival hosted by Kisii University. The festival’s goals are to bring people together from all walks of life, encourage peace, and strengthen our sense of national unity. The youth as agents of peace, inclusivity, and value-based cultural integration is the theme of this year’s 2022 cultural festival.

Ucspak, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) of Kenya, as well as other significant partners, were present. The National Youth Council investigated campuses to look for peace commitments among students in an effort to improve peace negotiations.

The students showed patriotism by embracing coexistence while showcasing their variety through regional dances.

“One of the keys to success is understanding your origins. According to VC John Solana, Kisii University is in charge of ensuring that its population has access to diverse cultural activities.

Later, Mr. Roy Sasaka Telewa, CEO of the National Youth Council, graced the stage with a dance while dressed in traditional garb to demonstrate how diverse and harmonious different groups can be. Before going to the event, he took part in a tree-planting operation to help Kenya reach its 10% forest cover goal.

He made a point of highlighting the value of culture to young people in his opening remarks. Because of their leadership potential and creative energy, youth may function as a bridge across cultures and be important forces in advancing peace and intercultural understanding. Comrades should lead the way in promoting peace across the nation, he continued. The National Youth Council will therefore assist universities in making sure this is done in fruition.

On Friday 25th March 2022 , the National Youth Council held a Youth Leadership and Governance Dialogue Forum at Nairobi Baptist, Lucky Summer Estate in Ruaraka, Nairobi.

In attendance was the National Youth Council,CEO Mr Roy Sasaka Telwa; The Youth Advisory Board members who were Mr Alex Kuni, Ms Angel Mbuthia, Ms Irene Kendi, Mr Kevin Machogu and Ms Deborah Bubi; Mr Hamisi Kirenga, Executive Director, Spread Truth Africa; Mr Meshack Odede Chairperson, Volunteer Involving Organization and Mr Paul Wubonn, Comedian and Content Creator.

NYC conducted an interactive session, moderated by the CEO. The CEO Roy Sasaka Telewa gave a brief overview of the mandate of the National Youth Council Kenya which is a State Corporation under the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs which came into being through the enactment of the National Youth  Council (NYC) Act 2009 rev 2014 as the official voice of the Youth.

Mr Hamisi Kirenga, Executive Director, Spread Truth Africa gave a brief overview of Spread Truth Africa and the importance of instilling good values and virtues in the society. He also gave a  history of his life journey to who he is today. He encouraged young people to take hold of opportunities through hard work, resilience, determination and commitment in powerful institutions and groups.

“Youth leadership is important for the future of the community and  the country. If you see fellow youth on the ballot, vote for them,” said Walter Buleti.

The Youth Leadership and Governance Dialogue Forum at Nairobi Baptist Church gave youth a better understanding on the importance of their inclusion in decision making processes, leadership and governance positions. It advocated for them to harness their voice in matters of youth policies, mental health and unemployment.

Over 2000 young people attended the 4th edition of PDF, modelled around Youth participation in dialogue on Leadership and Governance. The theme for the PDF 2022 was ‘’Competition and Collaboration in Democratic Development.’’

The three-day event took place on 9th – 11th March 2022 at the Nairobi National Museum where the National Youth Council partnered with the Danish Embassy and Center for Multiparty Democracy – Kenya who hosted the event.

The PDF started in 2019, a dialogue between citizens and its leaders. Topics discussed for this year were relevant to the upcoming general elections which include electoral accountability, unstable political environment and safeguarding digital spaces. Also, extended the topic in areas such as the need of policy makers and political civic actors to engage in important dialogue that champion for Youth inclusion.

The program addressed:

1. Leaving no one behind. With guest speaker being Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana who advocated for the Youth to participate in politics and spur development that will enhance youth empowerment to curb unemployment.

2.Issue based dialogue – opportunity which touched on development partners and youth labour dialogue that will harness Youth voice for job creation and opportunities.

3. Private sector and youth peace in sustain development dialogue. The festival started with performances from African Traditional dancers, Maono dancers, spoken word artist Poet Tear Drops and other artists who grace the stage by showcasing their talents through art.

Additionally, PDF 2022 included the Sawazisha Gumzo program, which provided the youth with the chance to share their firsthand accounts of mental health-related difficulties they had encountered and how they had overcome them. They received life skills training to enhance their confidence and develop their talents, as well as mentoring to impart the principles that would make them better citizens.

The National Youth Council CEO, Mr Roy Sasaka discussed matters related to Youth engagement in the decision making process and being part of policymakers in the devolved government.

Other partners for the festival were the Government of Kenya, Speaker of National Assembly Honourable Justin Muturi, Women representative of Nairobi County Esther Passaris, The ODM party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, UNDP, NCBA, EABL, Safaricom, One Campaign, Fursa Mashinani, DrinkIQ, Spread Truth Africa, Action Aid, Konza Technopolis and among others in attendance.

The National Youth Council is mandated under Section 4 of the NYC act 2009(Rev 2012,2014) to act as the voice and bridge to ensure that the Government and the policymakers are kept informed of the views and aspirations of the Youth. It is also mandated to promote the inclusion of Youth in decision-making bodies and institutions.

The Council conducted a leadership and governance forum in Bungoma(Kimilili) at Lechante Hotel, Tranzoia(Kitale) at ICM and Busia (Nambale) at Thorn and Thatch. This being an electioneering period, it was meant to offer an opportunity to the youth leaders to discuss: the challenges and opportunities that the youth face in different counties, youth taking up leadership spaces, youth civic responsibility, youth participation in the economic development, Youth as peace ambassadors and Youth and the existing empowerment initiatives.

The NYC Kenya mobilized 150 youth leaders in each of the counties totalling 450 youth participants. The youth mobilization considered the two thirds gender rule with consideration of Youth with Disability. The CEO NYC Sir Roy Sasaka Telewa set the Agenda of the session by presenting the program of the day and the overview of NYC. Key NYC programs include; Sawazisha Gumzo, Intergenerational dialogue forums, leadership and governance forum, environmental conservation, youth exchange programme, talent and innovation, Fursa Vs Virus.

The leaders in attendance were Mr Raymond Ochieng YAB engaged in leadership and governance dialogue, Ms Angel Mbuthia Youth Advisory Board discussed Youth Civic responsibility and Youth Opportunities Innovation for Prosperity Dialogue was discussed by Ms June Chepkemei of Konza Technopolis.

As NYC Kenya, we would like to recommend an increased number of forums to all the counties, increased budget for events to cater for a higher number of participants mobilized, engage with more partners for a wider reach, identify and facilitate youth champions to advocate the government agenda on the ground, enhanced capacity building on qualities of good leaders, political rights and responsibilities and consider the use of mainstream media and social media for advocacy.

The first Edition of Kiambu County Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week at Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology(JKUAT) was launched by the ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru on Thursday 24th March 2022.

He urged the youths in Kiambu to take advantage of the opportunities the government is offering through the Studio Mashinani Project which provides an opportunity for them to develop their creative talents and earn from them. He added our youth must be empowered with skills geared toward shifting their mindsets from job seekers to job creators and owners of capital.

“The innovation week is the first of its kind in the county considering the youth in the area,” said Mr Erick Keriko, Kiambu Chief Officer for Youth, Innovation and Communication. The county government has set aside Sh138 million and another Sh1.3 billion from Kenya Commercial Bank as grants for innovators and provision of capital for youth to unlock their potential.

Thursday 24th March 2022, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the Microsoft Africa Development Center(ADC) in iconic Dunhill Towers, Westlands Nairobi. Microsoft, the American technology giant has set up two ADCs in Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya.

The center is designed to be a platform for the world-class African talent to create technology solutions for local and global impact. Our country will provide an environment for African techies to develop solutions to address local and global challenges. He was accompanied by ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru.