Youth advocacy and the rise of activism in Nakuru

The efforts of Nakuru-based social justice and good governance advocates, including painter Laban Omusindi and medical doctor Benjamin Magare, have gained national attention, becoming central to the discourse on rights and accountability in Kenya.

According to Mr Omusindi, Nakuru residents have shown an increased awareness of their rights, demanding better governance and accountability from elected leaders.

Since beginning his advocacy in 2018, he says 2024 has stood out as a year that reaffirmed the impact of his work.

Among his notable achievements this year was the enactment of the Election Amendment Bill 2024.

This legislation mandates that individuals nominated for MCA positions must be residents of the counties they represent, a move aimed at ensuring that nominees are familiar with local issues and better equipped to address constituent challenges.

“The idea behind the bill was to bridge the gap between leadership and the electorate, ensuring that local representatives are truly in touch with the issues affecting their regions,” Mr Omusindi says.

Another milestone was the Senate’s consideration of his petition to block counties from outsourcing legal services to private law firms.

This effort sparked widespread public debate about resource allocation and governance. He also filed a petition in the High Court seeking to consolidate public bursary funds into a single pool, aiming to improve equity and transparency in distribution.

This petition, which lists Parliament and the Attorney General as respondents, has spurred parliamentary discussions on the matter.

Mr Omusindi observes that 2024 was marked by heightened impunity among leaders unwilling to embrace transparency or public input.

“Most leaders are not ready to listen. Instead, they focus on implementing their own ideas, disregarding the public's wishes,” he remarked.

Despite these challenges, including government intimidation and profiling of critics, advocacy efforts have gained momentum.

According to Omusindi, youth involvement in governance has increased, with many joining the movement for better leadership.

“The more the government suppresses critical voices, the more people rise to demand accountability. We've seen youth educating each other on their rights and holding leaders to account, even amid efforts to stifle change,” he says.

Looking ahead to 2025, Mr. Omusindi hopes to see even more citizens joining the call for good governance and responsible use of public resources.

In recognition of his dedication to promoting accountability, Mr Omusindi received an award on December 28 at the Naivasha Six Stars Awards, honoring his exceptional efforts in advancing social justice and governance.