Why it’s Time Youths Used Digital Tools to Rise as Youthfulness is not a Qualification for one to get anything

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The Centre for Multi-party Democracy last week held a People Dialogue Festival in Nairobi. The discussions were focused on the Building Bridges Initiative and the Big Four agenda.

However, issues of youth inclusion dominated the debates. Several university students complained that they have been left out of decision-making organs in various institutions.

A participant, however, differed with the youth claims, saying: “Youthfulness is not a qualification for one to get anything, you must bring skills, abilities and talents to the table for you to be considered valuable.”

No doubt, the youth need to be involved in developing a country. However, there is a rider, they must push themselves from the comfort zone to develop unique ability and skills that would enable them make meaningful contribution to economy.

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During Kenya’s second liberation, students played a critical role in fighting against authoritarian regime. Without fear, they surged to fight impunity. Recently, however, a social media user quipped that the youth have lost their mojo.

But that may not necessarily be the case. Youth have not lost creativity and innovativeness. Rather, circumstances and issues have changed. We no longer fight against authoritarian regimes but against corruption that is practiced by a few elites who have illegally amassed enough to bribe their way out of judicial process.

To reclaim our spot in decision-making tables, we need to activate every nerve of creativity to find solutions to the graft menace. But first, we have to understand the environment to develop efficient strategies. Technological advancement remains a driving force.

Therefore, anyone who wants to make any significant change must master the digital intricacies. The ability by the youth to use new technologies with ease, in itself, is enough power. But the energy ought to be focused and properly directed using the right tools and platforms

In her book Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics, Nanjala Nyabola explores several issues on use of digital tools and platforms. In emphasising the significance of digital tools, she cites collapse of Chase Bank and how blogs and twitter accelerated the eccentric incident. This depicts the new power that exists in digital platforms.

Effective use of digital tools requires us to embrace new power system institutions. This system is premised on the idea that every individual with digital knowledge can offer value in the market. This then calls for liberalisation of decision-making and redefining public participation by all institutions.

Moreover, adherence to ethical moral values is important. What we put in digital platforms leaves indelible mark; hence all people must strive to post factual information. Instead, as a strategy, the youth must use digital tools to propagate the values of good governance and push for accountability.

Clearly, young people must embrace digital tools to create markets. Through online groups we need to create channels to produce, and market products. Engineering students must endeavour to build applications that will make agriculture lucrative.

Mobile apps that could help in prediction of weather, measuring soils to determine which crops do well in particular places. Collectively, the youth can achieve the aspiration of a new Kenya. The writer comments on political issues

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