On Kenya’s election day, I cast my ballot for YOUth.

To Youth it May Concern:

Today Kenyans go to the polls to elect a president.  Five years ago, the national elections ended in the death of 1,000 people and the displacement of 300,000 more.  Most of this violence was blamed on tribal divisions and impoverished, violent youth…but don’t you believe it. Kenyan youth are NOT the problem.  They are the solution. 

The summer that followed the post election violence I worked as an Advocacy Project Peace Fellow in Kibera, the very slum in Nairobi that was the epicenter of the violence. I spent that summer with Kenyan youth at their homes, radio stations, kale fields, concerts, and civic engagement clubs learning just how powerful, innovative, and peace-seeking the vast majority of Kenyan youth are. And they ARE the majority.  Over 50% of Kenyans (and African countries for that matter) are under the age of 18.

What emerged from these vibrant youth was a story of peaceful resistance and creative protest, a story of a young civil society that is the key to the democratic future of not only Kenya, but developing countries and transitioning democracies around the globe.

But I’d like to let them speak for themselves.  What follows are the voices of Kenyan youth from interviews and conversations they shared with me. The names have been omitted but the power of their stories and sentiments remain.

Here is what they taught me and why I believe in Kenya.

Kenyan Youth are SMART:

“I am educated by the G.H.E.T.T.O 'Get High Education To Teach Others.' To me I think education doesn’t mean you have to go to school to reach to this and this class and then you have education.  Like in the past our ancestors didn’t go to university but they had education they had a good message to tell other people.” Because here, we are one…but we are all equal. Education is wide. You can learn it in class. You can learn it anywhere. But mostly we don’t think education is about theory it’s about experience. And that experience you turn it to another person. That is education." (Youth DJ at Pamoja Radio)

Kenyan Youth are PEACEMAKERS

"During the post-election violence, We started reasoning ourselves. Personally I wrote a passage, how I love this slum, how it has helped me grow up, go through high school, and I put it on notice board.  A week earlier these tribal clashes had already begun showing up in other parts of the country…so we were consulting each other.  If we start fighting and burning down the houses we have, we are destroying ourselves.  We started asking…where is our future if we fight each other? There were several such type of talks in the slum. So we agreed, no youth is going to sleep.  If we don’t know you, you should not come in.  So all youths during the post election violence, we stayed out. That was the best thing we ever did as a slum together.  The mothers who had kids slept with no fear because they know the youths were out there." (Leader of TUFF youth group)

Kenyan Youth are POSITIVE

“They say nothing good comes from the youth. Nothing good comes from the ghetto, but now is the time to show them. We are trying to come with solutions not pollution.” [Youth] think when they rob you, it’s when they get something to eat. But we, we come here with a positive message we tell them, no. They can do this and this and this and then your talent will one day will help you. Don’t give up.  Just try try try and use other people because nobody stands alone. You can’t arise if you are alone.  You better come in between other people. You go to other aid groups, exchange ideas and then, you’ll arise."  (Youth DJ – Pamoja Radio)

Kenyan Youth are UNITED in their DIVERSITY

"When I see a community I see unity and I also see diversity. I see unity in the sense of people who share basic concerns, who share ideas, who share the same mindset and maybe the resources.  And I see diversity in that our particular culture we have different tribes coming together. Diversity also in the sense of academic levels and academic qualifications.  Diversity in the source of power in some by cash money and some are other empowered.  So I see the two working together: unity and diversity."  (Member of Civic Education SMART club)   

Kenyan Youth are POWERFUL

"Youth have power and our society notices that power when we become negative like what happened in the post election violence. That is when our society notices that we are powerful, especially when they engage in vices, torching of homes, being chaotic and all that.  When they see youth coming together and being violent in a way they see power in that.  But when the youth are positive, when the youth are crying for their place, they don’t recognize that.  It is more ironic in that they see the power when we’re negative but when we try to be positive they don’t notice that.  I believe the youth can change the society especially in our case but synergy has to come in and unity has to be brought in the youth have to come together and forge a particular vision that now whatever SMART Club is doing empower the youths there is an element of power in us because we have come together as a group and we are passionate about a particular vision so I personally believe the youth in Nairobi are able to influence the society when they pursue a particular vision."  (Member of SMART)

Kenyan Youth are a PRIME INVESTMENT 

"Let them come to the youth. Let them come to the root.  Let them come to Kibera. And see like you know ask me what do you want? What is your problem? And know me better. If I grow Kale or vegetables, let them bring the things I need. The seeds, the water.  If you give me money and I live in the slum I will not go to search tomorrow, but what of the next year. I’ll not be having the money. But if you invest in me little by little. It’s like plucking kale, little by little, you have to let the plant grow" (Pamoja FM).

I believe in Kenyan Youth.  I vote for them and hope for them.  There is perhaps no better way to support the growth of an emerging democracy than to support the youth, the newest and most eager citizens a country has. 

Kenya ni Moja! Kenya is one.