Hundreds of university and college students have filled the Bishop Stam Pastoral Centre conference hall to the brim, for the UDA Comrades Chapter – Western Edition.
Speaking to TV47 Digital, the students expressed optimism in the much-anticipated town hall, reiterating that they would want the government to stock-take on their election pledges.
The party has assembled a strong team of panelist who will handle topical mini-discussions of the town hall, led by ICT Principal Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani and his counterparts Susan Mang’eni (MSMEs) and Dr Beatrice Inyangala (High Education and Research).
James Maina – Director of National Housing, Joseph Njue – Director National Employment Authority, Prof. Vincent Machuki – Presidential Council of Economic Advisors, Faith Lukosi – Director of Youth Fund and Patrick Malanga are also part of the panelists.
UDA Comrades Chapter
Launched on September 20, 2024, the chapter seeks to establish a robust social-political hustler movement to empower and mobilise youth across the country.
The initiative, UDA says, is designed to create a dynamic platform for students and young professionals to engage in political discourse, advocate for socio-economic development, and understand government policies, programs, and projects.
UDA Comrades Chapter is also geared towards creating a platform where university and college students can engage directly with the ruling political party, allowing them to share their concerns, ideas, and aspirations.
“This program aims to foster a more inclusive and participatory political approach, ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and valued,” a circular from the UDA’s Programs Department says. “Our primary Target Audience is University/College students across the country. The party’s motivation to form this youth-led entity stems from an understanding that Kenyan comrade youths face various interconnected challenges that significantly impact their well-being and prospects.”
The Kenya Kwanza Government, under the tutelage of President William Ruto, says that it is committed to tackling issues that “remain a thorn in the flesh of Kenyan youths”, including high unemployment rates, lack of school fees, political disengagement, digital divide, and cultural expectations among others.
