MP Gideon Keter wants National Youth Council Act overhauled

Nominated MP Gideon Keter wants the structure and operation of the current National Youth Council Act overhauled in a bid to have the issues affecting the youth addressed.

Keter, who is a youth representative in the Parliament, says the current act is obsolete and part of it is not in line with the current Constitution.

Keter’s bill – – National Youth Council (Amendment) Act, 2018 – – proposes the creation of a board comprising of youth representatives from different sectors of the economy. The board to be formed by the respective cabinet secretary will set the agenda based on emerging issues affecting the youth.

The Board will also stipulate guidelines on how bearers of office will be constituted whether through election or appointment.
“As youth we identify ourselves with interests and emerging issues that is why we need policies that favour our growth,” Keter said on Friday.

The bill also seeks to have youth offices moved to the county level from the current districts that do not exist in the current constitution. He says having the offices at the district level has made their operation frail.

Keter also wants to depoliticize the membership of the National Youth Council by allowing competitive recruitment of the youth serving in the council through the office of County Directors of Youth.

He also proposes that the NYC get yearly allocation from the National Treasury that will directly serve youth projects at the grassroots.

Keter further proposes addition of functions and rebranding of the NYC to Youth Development Council (YDC).

“As for now the Council cannot serve Kenyan youth effectively because of many hitches that does not clearly outline the role of the Ministry” he says.

The Senator says he wants how the representatives to the council and appointments of the board are made be clear so that those selected are the right persons to represent the interest of the youth.