Thursday, June 25, was a special day, a day that will forever
commemorate the 60 youth and more killed at the hands of trigger-happy
police, killed protesting the then-rejected 2024 proposed finance bill.
This year the question still remains: How meaningfully are young people participating in
shaping the country's economic future? Could this be what is hurting the youth?
Lack of involvement and participation in what matters most?
With nearly three-quarters of Kenya's population under the
age of 35, young people have been made merely stakeholders in fiscal policy, and
yet, they remain among those most affected by it.
From taxation on digital
services, employment opportunities, university funding or the cost of
essential commodities, decisions contained in the Finance Bill have direct consequences on the aspirations
and livelihoods of the youth—an entire generation of future leaders and future
developers of our country.
The events surrounding the 2024 Finance Bill, the June
aftermath last year and yesterday clearly signify that Kenyan youth should no
longer be perceived as passive observers of governance.
Our youth are highly
informed of current happenings, in fact, global issues, digitally connected and
increasingly willing to demand accountability from their leaders.
Through social media campaigns,
civic education initiatives, public participation forums and peaceful
demonstrations, many young Kenyans have constantly shown that they are
prepared to engage in issues traditionally viewed as the preserve of elite
economists and politicians.
Where our government goes wrong is to think engagement is
only during moments of crisis. To the extent of engaging goons to counter
genuine youth in protest, which is a very misguided approach.
A serious and
healthy democracy requires continuous participation long before a Finance Bill
reaches Parliament, and not just the typical, usual newspaper and parliament
website publicised call for public participation. Public participation should
begin at the policy formulation stage, where young people contribute ideas on
national priorities, revenue generation and expenditure.
A lot and a lot of civic
education on public finance must also become more accessible, in the language
all youth, including the less educated, can understand, enabling our
youth and other citizens in general to understand not only what taxes they pay,
but how those resources are allocated and monitored.
This challenge for meaningful civic engagement of the youth
in shaping fiscal policy also rests with institutions. Government agencies,
Parliament, county governments, civil society and educational institutions
must rethink how they communicate fiscal policy.
Technical documents often
remain complicated, inaccessible to ordinary citizens, particularly young
people outside urban centres. Thus, simplified communication, digital
engagement platforms and targeted outreach to universities, TVET institutions and community youth groups can transform participation from symbolic
consultation into meaningful dialogue.
When young people are genuinely informed, listened to and
included in fiscal decision-making, the country moves beyond reactive politics
towards participatory governance.
This is something our lawmakers know but ignore. Yet they are happy to facilitate the
registration of youth to obtain voter identification cards to be elected in
next year's general election.
When priorities change from using the youth as
voter machines to meaningful participation in what matters, the economy, then
the country might see fewer youth protests in future.
The future of Kenya's
economy will not be determined solely by the taxes collected, but by the extent
to which its largest demographic is empowered to shape the decisions that
define their future.
Bwire writes on African youth, democracy, higher education and development
