Analysis on the key Challenges and Barriers Faced by Youth in Marsabit County particularly Moyale Town

 The youth of Marsabit County represent a reservoir of untapped potential, yet they grapple with a myriad of challenges that hinder their progress and well-being. From economic hardships to social exclusion, the youth face a complex web of obstacles that demand urgent attention and concerted efforts for resolution. The key observation is that youth perceive devolution as mere decoration or tokenism, as it has not delivered the intended services and positive changes to Moyale town. In some areas, such as access to water, the situation has deteriorated. Prior to devolution, most households received water regularly, with some even having access as late as 2016. However, since then, the taps have run dry and connections have been destroyed. Here are some of the key barriers/challenges specific to youth affecting their participation in social, economic and political spaces

1.     Cross-border Movement: Situated on the border between Kenya and Ethiopia, Moyale's location can be both a blessing and a curse for its youth. However, the lack of strategic plans and engagement from relevant authorities has led to missed opportunities and the proliferation of illicit activities like drug peddling. This has left 6 of every 10 youth as the abusers of drugs including khat, mariuana and other hard drugs

2.     Youth Bulge and Unemployment: Moyale, like many parts of Kenya, is experiencing a youth bulge. While this demographic trend presents development opportunities, it also exacerbates issues such as unemployment and underemployment. Formal employment opportunities are limited, and the informal sector, including businesses like boda boda operations, cannot absorb all youth. Moreover, the only technical institute in Moyale is underfunded and unattractive to local youth. The county is considered the primary employer; however, employment is often based on personal connections and familial ties rather than merit. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) serve as the secondary major employer, predominantly offering entry-level positions and clerical work, primarily due to their emphasis on prior experience.

3.     Limited Participation in Decision-Making: Many yout feel disenfranchised and excluded from political and economic spheres due to factors like limited civic education and traditional barriers to participation where . This lack of engagement undermines social cohesion and perpetuates feelings of marginalization. The general feeling is that their participation is either as a decoration or just tokenism in instance where the youth demand for inclusion. This lack of engagement undermines social cohesion, with 70% of youth, especially men, abstaining from voting in the last election or selling their votes in other constituencies due to disillusionment.

4.     Skills Mismatch or lack of it and Education: The mismatch between the skills offered by higher education institutions and the demands of the job market leaves many youth unemployed or underemployed. Additionally, inadequate career guidance exacerbates the problem, leaving youth unaware of viable employment opportunities. many graduates the tales of either working in spaces that they have no skills for or just got employed and not knowing what to do. For parents and their children, university education still holds significant appeal despite the persistently high unemployment rates. However, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs are often disregarded by youth. Consequently, many informal sector jobs, such as tailoring, blacksmithing, and construction, are predominantly filled by youth from other counties or even from across the border.

5.     Health Challenges: Marsabit grapples with various health-related issues, including high rates of HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and drug abuse. These challenges not only endanger the well-being of youth but also impede their educational and economic prospects.

6.     Limited Access to Information and Technology: Compared to their counterparts in other regions, youth in Moyale have limited access to information and communication technology (ICT). This digital divide hampers their ability to access educational and economic opportunities available online.

7.     Handouts and Political Exploitation: Youth in Marsabit have often been exploited by politicians and other groups for personal gain, perpetuating a cycle of dependency and disempowerment. In most instances they are used to cause mayhem at different spaces making violence and threats a norm in the region. Leadership is an affair of the rich and the most populous tribes in the area.

8.     The lack of awareness regarding economic opportunities through various government initiatives, such as the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program or Enterprise funds, as well as skills training programs, compounds the challenges faced by youth in accessing sustainable livelihoods. 50% of the youth have never had of opportunities by government.

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that involves government agencies, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders. Investments in education, vocational training, healthcare, and infrastructure are crucial for unlocking the potential of Marsabit's youth and fostering sustainable development in the region. Currently, youth are involved in various economic activities, unfortunately including engagement in drug and substance abuse. At least 20% of those interviewed during the survey clearly indicated drug and substance abuse as one of their primary activities, either for generating income or simply to pass the time. The pie chart below provides a visual representation of these findings.

Moreover, efforts to promote youth participation in decision-making processes, combat social exclusion, and empower young people economically are essential for building resilient and prosperous communities. By addressing the root causes of youth challenges and fostering an enabling environment for their growth and development, Marsabit can unlock the full potential of its youth population and pave the way for a brighter future for all. And to this extent here as some of the policy recommendations

1.     Development of Legal Instruments such as youth policy, and laws; we urge the County to develop comprehensive youth policy and bill that would aim to actualizing Article 55 of CoK that mandates the state to take measures, including affirmative action programs, to ensure that the youth have access to relevant education and training; opportunities to associate, be represented and participate in political, social, economic and other spheres of life; and to access productive engagement including employment and entrepreneurship. Such county law will be an instruments towards social and economic inclusion and the governance process for the youth, while also opening up opportunities such as volunteer or internship program with county departments and

2.     Establish fully equipped Youth Centre: Moyale is home to a vibrant and dynamic youth population who are eager to contribute to the development. However, despite our enthusiasm and potential, but are currently facing significant challenges due to the lack of comprehensive youth facilities and resource centers.  The establishment of a youth center in Moyale would not only provide much-needed support and resources for the youth but also contribute to the overall development and well-being of the community. It would serve as a safe and empowering space where young people can learn, grow, and engage with their peers in positive ways. Furthermore, the Centre should be modelled to be a ‘One Stop Center to address the diverse and dynamic needs of the youth and is a unique response to challenges facing the youth such as inadequate capacity and access to ICT services, guidance and counseling on drugs and substance abuse, HIV-AIDS prevention among others. While also being the linking point of youth with different national government and other opportunities.

3.     Youth dialogue forum, under the of the Department of Youth of the county or CSOs, should hold quarterly forums with youth in each sub-county. The forum's goal is to keep youth up to date on government actions and plans, as well as to share challenges and progress in being monitoring and evaluation spaces. Only activities relevant to the sub-county in issue are shared by county government officers.

4.     Health programs; given different research have indicated to deterioration of healthy being of our youth the county should priorities putting measures to develop appropriate programmes and actions to mitigate health challenges facing the youth including sexual reproductive health rights(SRHR), Mental health, drugs and substance abuse, and psycho social intervention to realize a health youth population through but limited to the following interventions:

                        i.         Improvement, provision and expansion of access to services including information, guidance and counselling and make them youth friendly by removing all legal, regulatory, structural, medical and attitudinal barriers to accessing such services;

                       ii.         Support capacity strengthening of youth with appropriate life skills and mobilize families, communities, institutions and policy makers to create a safe and supportive environment for growth and development of the youth;

                     iii.         Support full protection of young women and men from all forms of violence, including gender-based violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, and promoting the psychological recovery and the social and economic reintegration of the victim;

                     iv.         Build partnerships and coordination among stakeholders involved in youth health and development and;

                       v.         Advocate for adoption and implementation of the Adolescent Health Policy

 

 Analysis by The Northland stories