Hundreds of university and college students have thronged the Semara Hotel Conference Hall, the venue of the UDA Comrades Chapter-Eastern Edition in Machakos Town.
As early as 8 am, the students had already started streaming in at the venue, armed with the vigour to engage the ruling party on critical issues affecting them, and how they can be included in the daily affairs of the government.
This edition is part of a series of town halls that the ruling party is organising across the country, seeking to establish a robust social-political hustler movement to empower and mobilise Kenyan youth. Other town hall meetings include; Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Eldoret.
Devolution PS Terry Mbaika, her livestock counterpart Jonathan Mueke, Haron K. Kertich (NEA Director ICT), James Maine (the Director of National Housing), and Prof Vincent Nyasaka Machuki (a member of the Presidential Council of Economic Advisors will be the panelists.
Other panelists include; Director of Youth Fund Faith Norah Lukosi, Joshus Arap Sang (Office of the Government Spokesperson) and Sharon Mukai, a student of Technical University of Kenya.
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.
