Youth Day Who? How the big day passed quietly in Nakuru

National Youth Day celebrations in Nakuru on August 12 ended on a muted note. The ambience could easily be described as lacking in energy, organization, and substance.

Despite expectations of a vibrant program to mark the day, as is always the case, dedicated to young people, this year, the event was characterized by low turnout, delays, and minimal engagement from the crowd.

Held at the Red Cross Hall, the gathering was smaller than in previous years, with large sections of seats remaining empty. Speeches from officials and performances failed to spark enthusiasm, as some participants left before the program concluded.

Eric Wanyama, the chairperson of the Nakuru Players Theatre, says the underwhelming mood may have been partly due to competing events.

“We had many events falling through this week. Youth Day was competing with budget public participation and the ongoing devolution conference, which may have taken away attention from it,” he says, adding that this made what should be the most important day for the youth seem like an afterthought.

Governor Susan Kihika was hosting Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen for the better part of the day hosting various security meetings.

Beyond that, Wanyama points to what he describes as a significant gap between young people and the government, which was evident during the celebrations.

“The day should be when young people show how much they are doing and how they can get involved in government and the development agenda. I did not see much planning that involved youth or strong mobilization on the ground. It left me wondering whether they have nothing to celebrate or whether there is simply a lack of coordination,” he says.

Wanyama observes that there was little energy in the planning or in showcasing the work of young people, leaving many questions unanswered. Budget constraints, he adds, could also have played a role in the uninspiring preparation.

“We also have a county youth multi-agency forum that was meant to bring together young people from creative, agricultural, manufacturing, and other sectors, but it seems dormant or underfunded. That gap needs to be addressed sooner rather than later,” he notes.

In the future, Wanyama recommends that the county and stakeholders do more than simply organize a single day of activities.

He says there should be a series of youth-centred events and initiatives throughout the year, culminating in International Youth Day, to ensure the occasion is meaningful and impactful.