Kasarani Member of Parliament aspirant Anthony Munene has pledged to make youth and women empowerment a central pillar of his political agenda if elected in the upcoming General Election.

Munene says his main objective is to create practical economic opportunities that will enable young people and women to earn a living, support their families and become financially independent.

Speaking during his engagement with residents, Munene expressed concern over the rising levels of unemployment among young people, saying it was worrying that thousands of youths remain without jobs despite making up the majority of the country’s population.

He said the challenge of youth unemployment requires leaders to move beyond political rhetoric and come up with programmes that directly improve the economic lives of young people.

According to Munene, many young people have the energy, skills and determination to work but lack the financial support and opportunities needed to start or expand income-generating activities.

He said his leadership would seek to bridge this gap by supporting initiatives that can provide youths with sustainable sources of income.

“The youth are the majority, but it is sad that thousands of them are still jobless. We must create opportunities that allow them to earn a living and build better futures for themselves and their families,” Munene said.

Munene said one of the programmes he intends to champion is the strengthening of the bodaboda sector, which he described as an important source of employment for thousands of young people.

He said the sector should be supported through programmes that can help riders improve their businesses, access opportunities and increase their incomes.

The aspirant also pledged to introduce and support programmes specifically targeting women, particularly those involved in small businesses and other informal economic activities.

He said women play a critical role in supporting families and communities but often face challenges accessing capital and opportunities to expand their businesses.

Munene said empowering women economically would have a wider impact on families because increased household incomes would help improve the welfare of children and dependants.

He further called for greater support for young entrepreneurs, saying leaders should focus on creating an environment where youths can start businesses rather than depending entirely on formal employment.

The Kasarani MP aspirant said elected leaders should work with relevant stakeholders to identify viable programmes that can equip young people with skills, capital and mentorship to enable them to establish sustainable enterprises.

He said political leadership should ultimately be measured by its ability to improve the lives of ordinary citizens and create opportunities for future generations.

Call for Peaceful Campaigns

Munene also used the opportunity to call on politicians seeking elective positions in the upcoming elections to conduct their campaigns peacefully and avoid using young people to cause violence.

He condemned the practice of recruiting youths as political goons, warning that such tactics only expose young people to danger while politicians eventually move on with their lives.

He urged political leaders to compete on the basis of ideas, policies and development agendas rather than violence, intimidation and political incitement.

“Youths should not be used as instruments of violence during political campaigns. They should be empowered to become productive members of society,” he said.

Munene said political differences should not divide communities or turn young people against one another.

He called on candidates across the political divide to respect their opponents and allow voters to make independent decisions based on the leadership programmes presented to them.

According to Munene, Kenya has a youthful population that should be viewed as an asset rather than a source of political conflict.

He said the country can only realize its development potential if young people are given meaningful opportunities to participate in the economy.

The aspirant further urged residents to demand accountability from politicians and evaluate candidates based on their ability to address issues affecting ordinary families.

He said his campaign would focus on presenting solutions to the challenges facing residents, particularly unemployment, poverty and limited economic opportunities.

Munene maintained that empowering youths and women would remain at the heart of his political agenda, saying he wants to see a Kasarani constituency where residents have access to opportunities that enable them to improve their livelihoods.

He expressed confidence that with proper leadership, targeted economic programmes and peaceful political engagement, young people and women can play a bigger role in driving economic development in Kasarani and the country at large.