WHY NAKURU YOUTHS SHOULD FIGHT FOR THEIR POSITION IN THE COUNTY
After the departure of Josephine Achieng, the county administration appointed a 61-year-old woman to head the youth docket. With due respect, such an appointment raises serious questions. The youth department should be led by someone who understands the unique aspirations, challenges, and opportunities of young people, preferably a youth or at least someone closer to that generation.
This appointment is not just an isolated case of poor judgment, it is a reflection of a broader culture of mediocrity among Kenyan politicians. Leaders continue to recycle outdated faces into positions meant for fresh, dynamic thinkers, showing how little regard they have for youth empowerment. It’s as if the future of young people is constantly mortgaged to reward loyalty and political patronage rather than competence.
If Governor Susan Kihika truly has the youth agenda at heart, she would have entrusted this critical role to a young, vibrant leader capable of connecting with Gen Zs and Millennials. Instead, appointing someone far removed from youth realities signals a complete disconnect between leadership and the people it serves. It demonstrates how political leaders in Kenya are more interested in appeasing their networks than addressing the real issues facing the youth, unemployment, skills development, and innovation.
Equally concerning are the appointee’s credentials. With only a diploma in education, one wonders whether Nakuru really lacked more qualified, energetic, and innovative minds among its young professionals to take up this role. The appointment risks undermining the very essence of youth empowerment and exposes how political mediocrity thrives at the expense of meritocracy.
It is also worth questioning whether the removal of Madam Josephine was less about performance and more about political maneuvering, perhaps an attempt to sideline certain communities from Nakuru’s political matrix. If that is the case, then the county’s youth agenda has been hijacked by ethnic chess games and selfish interests, instead of being anchored in merit, inclusivity, and progress.
Unfortunately, this is not just a Nakuru problem. Across Kenya, young people are constantly told they are “the leaders of tomorrow,” yet when leadership opportunities arise, they are bypassed for individuals whose only qualification is their loyalty to the ruling class. Politicians continue to demonstrate that they value control over competence, survival over service, and mediocrity over merit.
Nakuru youths must rise. They should demand representation and leadership that reflects their reality, their energy, and their vision. Without their active fight for space, decisions will continue to be made on their behalf but never in their favor.