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WEZESHA A Publication of the Ministry of Public Service, Youth & Gender Affairs Issue No.6/2018 Inside this Issue • H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, new Global Youth Champion • CS in Kandara, Murang'a • National Youth Service restructuring kicks off • CAS in Coast Region • National Youth Policy review • Huduma saves Kenyans KES. 343 Million • UNFPA & UNICEF courtesy call with CS • APSD 2019 Workshop From The Cabinet Secretary's Desk Dear Team, The lead story in our current Ministry newsletter is on the endorsement His Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta as the Global Champion of the Young People’s Agenda by the United Nations General Assembly on 25th September 2018. This is a great honour to our country. Join me in heartily congratulating the President on this global recognition. While this singular global honor recognizes the work of our President on the empowerment of youth in Africa and beyond, it also mirrors the facilitative role that this ministry and its staff play in the empowerment of youth in our country. The recognition should serve as a source of great pride to you as it means your work is bearing fruit and the world is noticing. It is you, in partnership with private, civil society actors and international development partners who plan and implement the youth empowerment programs in the country. The success of this partnership was demonstrated markedly during the multi-ministerial, multi-agency commemoration of the National Youth Week and International Youth Day this year, that was synergized further by the collaboration of the national and county governments. It is this level of commitment and partnership that presents such impressive results. I take this opportunity to congratulate and thank everyone for their contribution to the youth empowerment agenda. We have committed to support our President to ensure that he has a most successful tenure as global youth ambassador. I implore you to keep the same winning spirit as we forge ahead to achieve more for our youth and those other citizens we have been called to serve. Prof. Margaret Kobia PhD, MGH CABINET SECRETARY His Excellency endorsed as UN Global Youth Champion BY PROF. MARGARET KOBIA His Excellency, President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, was on 25th September 2018, unanimously endorsed as the Global Champion of the Young People’s Agenda at the UN General Assembly under the Generation Unlimited initiative. The initiative is a UN-led multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to ensure all young people are in school, training, or in employment by 2030. The initiative will focus on skills for learning, employment and empowerment of young people. The position brings pride to us all and serves to add The UN General Assembly meeting in New York on 25th September impetus in our work as we implement His Excellency 2018, where H.E. the President, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta was endorsed the President’s policies on youth empowerment as the UN Champion of the Young People's Agenda. here at home. administration in pro-active youth empowerment interventions including the policy to reserve 30% of His Excellency the President has been instrumental government procurement opportunities for youth, in championing the youth agenda in Africa. Last provision of affordable loans, technical and vocational year, the President mobilized support for the skills training, volunteer programs, government establishment of an Africa Youth Fund with an internship and apprenticeship programmes. approved allocation of at least 1% of the Programme Budget of the African Union. These efforts have had remarkable impact as evidenced by the inaugural Global Youth Development Index The launch of the UN Global Strategy on Youth released in 2016 which found that Kenya had made the marks the start of a new era for youth of the world. greatest strides in improving the conditions of young We are ready to support His Excellency in people over the past five years in Sub-Saharan Africa championing the five key areas specified by the region. strategy because, to quote His Excellency, "we do not champion the cause of youth opportunity and Once again, we congratulate His Excellency the hope as a favour, but rather as the necessary, President and wish him a successful tenure in his new undeniable, embrace of our collective future." role. This is yet another feather in the cap of His Excellency’s exceptional track record of global, Kenya is signatory to the Africa Youth Charter and continental and regional leadership in a number of fields has made meaningful progress in implementing the dedicated to the progress of humanity. On our part, we provisions of the charter including the pledge unyielding commitment and diligence in establishment of a National Youth Council and the actualizing his policy objectives here at home, in Africa development of a National Youth Policy. The and globally. President has demonstrated strong commitment to the empowerment of Kenya’s youth. He has invested considerable resources of his 1 Review of The National Youth Policy BY MAUREEN MUSYOKI The National Youth Policy (2007) that is under review is a framework for youth development across the country. It was developed within the context of sectoral policies, national development plans and International policies and charters to which Kenya is a signatory. It was passed by Parliament in 2007. The policy endeavored to ensure that all youth are provided with meaningful opportunities to reach their full potential, both as individuals and as active participants in society. Public Service and Youth Affairs Principal Secretary, Dr. Francis Through this policy a lot was achieved in the youth Owino chairing the inter-Sectoral meeting on the National Youth Policy Review on 27th August 2018. sector including the establishment of Ministry of The review of the National Youth Policy (NYP) Youth Affairs, Youth Enterprise Development (2007) is currently underway. A multi-sectoral Fund, and the enactment of the National Youth technical committee constituted at the Ministry to Council Act (2009). spearhead the review has so far collected views from youth all over the country in 13 regional forums. In The Kenya Constitution 2010 has widened the addition, submissions have been received from space for youth inclusion. It places an obligation on among others, State Departments, Semi the State, under Article 55, to take various Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs), articulated measures towards youth Council of Governors (COG), and youth serving empowerment. The Constitution further organizations to ensure that the reviewed policy is established devolved units and devolved resources as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. In hence the need for coordination of various youth addition, the committee is working closely with interventions among the various youth sector KIPPRA to ensure that the reviewed document actors. meets set standards for public policy. New opportunities have emerged which include It is envisaged that the Policy review will address the ICT and online jobs, sports, the arts and major concerns and issues critical to the youth. It will agribusiness. Challenges have also emerged that give direction to youth programs and services include youth radicalization, exclusion of youth required to be undertaken by government and all due to ICT based challenges, cybercrime and other stakeholders to address the concerns. Further, human rights abuse among others. These issues it will outline strategies to mobilize resources and have directly or indirectly affected the youth create an implementation mechanism. socially, economically and politically making it necessary to develop a responsive policy Currently, the Ministry is working closely with Kenya framework that will effectively drive the youth Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis empowerment agenda and address youth (KIPPRA) to put together the first draft. Upon concerns within the current national and global conclusion of this exercise, the draft will be context. subjected to a validation process by all stakeholders in preparation for adoption of a policy to drive the youth agenda in the next Medium Term Period. 2 CS in Kandara, Murang'a County BY ROGERS MUTHAMA Cabinet Secretary, Prof Margaret Kobia was in Gacharage, Kandara Constituency, Murang’a County on 10th September 2018 for Huduma Mashinani, Cheques Disbursement and Launch of the National Sanitary Towels Programme for the County. 317,000 sanitary towels were distributed in the County for public primary schools as well as special primary and secondary schools. Hundreds of residents from Gacharage and its Cabinet Secretary, Prof Margaret Kobia launches the National Sanitary Towels Programme in Kandara Constituency, Murang'a County on 10th environs turned out to benefit from Huduma September 2018. Mashinani Services which included health services, NHIF registration, birth & death certificates, and NSSF. During the event, Prof Kobia disbursed Affirmative Action Cheques worth over KES. 10 million for women and youth groups in the constituency. The funds were from National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF), and Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary, Prof Margaret Kobia presents KES. 5.6 Million cheque MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara), Martha from NGAAF in Kandara Constituency, Murang'a County on 10th Wangari(Gilgil), Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul), September 2018. Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Waithera Maua (Maragwa), Engineer Nduati (Gatanga), among other local leaders. The Cabinet Secretary later visited St. Mary’s Rwegetha Secondary School where she addressed the students. Cabinet Secretary, Prof Margaret Kobia at Rwegetha Secondary School where she addressed the students on 10th September 2018. 3 CAS in Coast Region BY ERIC WAWERU KSG Matuga, Kwale County The Chief Administrative Secretary visited Kenya School of Government (KSG), Matuga on 11th September 2018 and held a meeting with the School Director Mrs. Prisca Olouch where they discussed the current programmes that were being undertaken and the projects that the school had envisioned to undertake. The Director pointed out that the classification of Matuga as a hardship region had contributed to slow development.