E. Financing Good Governance Programs for Youth: A Prerequisite for
Sustainable Peace in Kenya (Lesson #2632)
Observation.
In the last decade, Africa has grown significantly – demographically and economically. Sadly, its youth
bulge, the largest in the world, cannot be sustained with the economic progress made. The number of
young people graduating from institutions of higher learning is significantly high compared to the number
of young people being absorbed by employment agencies. Whereas many governments, banking
institutions, and international development partners have also put in place programs and projects to allow
youth access to skills and financial support in the form of capital to start businesses, these efforts alone
can still not accommodate the increase of young people exiting tertiary institutions. This situation has been
made worse with increasing corruption in regional hegemons such as Kenya. This is because the economic
progress made which has tripled in the last decade is parallel to increased levels of corruption. High levels
of corruption brought about by misappropriation of funds, inadequate accountability and transparency in
the management of state and public resources, nepotism, and tribalism are a threat to peace in previously
more stable countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Discussion.
Emerging new threats to peace such as terrorism and human trafficking, which are transnational in nature,
are reinforced by inadequate economic opportunities and an increase in internet connectivity. This is made
worse by evolving factors such as poor governance which is taking a toll in many African countries, forcing
the continent's youth to explore other avenues of making a living. A look at past conflicts in countries
such as Sierra Leone which have undergone humanitarian crises shows how high levels of corruption and
mismanagement of resources took the country through 11 years of civil war. Kenya is steadily working to
reduce corruption and promote accountability in public, private, and government institutions; however, it
is still considered among the most corrupt countries in the world according to a recent report by
Transparency International. In the recent past, high levels of corruption accompanied by youth
unemployment and underemployment have resulted in desperate measures by young people eager to earn
a living. More and more youth have taken to the idea of ‘hustling’ where they intend to earn a living by
any means possible. This means using unconventional methods to get money. As a result, we have seen
more young people leave in the thousands to look for greener pastures in Europe by taking risks going
through Libya crossing the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe.
In a report that was commissioned and conducted by the East African Institute (EAI), dubbed ‘Kenya
Youth Survey Report,’ 50% of youth in Kenya do not care what means and ways a person uses to become
rich provided they do not go to jail. In a more shocking revelation, 30% of the youth in Kenya, according
to the survey, strongly believe that corruption is profitable and lucrative. Thirty-five percent of them are
ready to give and receive a bribe for services. This is in addition to increasing crime where youth are
motivated by country officials who get away with corruption. A case in point is seen in Kenya where two
brothers and their cousin in their early 30s robbed a bank of $500,000 and blamed the incident on
unemployment, having graduated from the university but still jobless. They also blamed corruption cases
in the country by government officials, where little or no action was taken to prosecute the perpetrators.
From these examples, there is a strong correlation between countries facing threats to peace and the state
of poor governance shown through corruption levels according to the latest corruption index
report. There is an urgent need to restructure institutions that promote accountability, as this has the
potential of promoting peace and justice and preventing emerging threats. A good example is seen in
Kenya where after the 2007/2008 post-election violence, having institutions that promote accountability
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