Young people in Garissa have renewed calls for greater inclusion in decision-making and stronger efforts to tackle unemployment, education gaps and skills development challenges during a youth dialogue forum held in the county.
The forum, dubbed The Great Garissa Declaration and organised by the Manifesto Yetu Consortium, brought together youth representatives, community leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss challenges facing young people and explore possible solutions.
Garissa Township Ward MCA and County Assembly Minority Leader Hussein Mohamed Dagane said the discussions highlighted the need to place young people at the centre of governance and development processes.
Participants identified unemployment as one of the biggest challenges facing youth in the county, alongside limited opportunities for skills training and participation in leadership.
The forum also examined issues of governance, education and civic engagement, with speakers urging policymakers to create platforms that allow young people to contribute meaningfully to decisions affecting their lives.
Youth account for the biggest share of Kenya’s population, but many continue to face barriers in accessing employment and leadership opportunities.
Mr. Hussein said addressing these challenges will require collaboration between government institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector.
The meeting highlighted the need for sustained engagement between leaders and young people to ensure youth voices are reflected in policy and development agendas in Garissa and beyond.
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