Raila Odinga promises to give youths 4 ministerial post if elected.

ODM leader Raila Odinga has promised to give youths at least four ministerial posts if he is elected president in the next election.

Odinga was speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday at a meeting with a group of young people from the Mount Kenya region, where he defended youth empowerment.

The ODM chief stressed that when he was prime minister he held meetings on youth counseling, adding that that would be part of his policy.

“When I was Prime Minister, I set up round tables with the business world and also with the youth. The circles were held quarterly so that we could get feedback from young people on the issues they face and what we do. This is something I have already tried and that will be part of my policy, ”Odinga said.

“In terms of youth ministry positions … I can say that it will be more than four,” he added.

He promised that young people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are dealing with foreign affairs, as most citizens living abroad are young.

Odinga noted that if the youth are empowered properly, they become the right source of wealth, further claiming that this is part of the BBI agenda.

“If you don’t give them (the youth) education and the skills they need, they become a medicine for society, but if they are given the right potential, they become a good source of wealth … and that is why we must address this issue of youth properly,” Odinga said.

“In the BBI, we said good things. We do not want to create a department but a youth ministry and a national youth commission under this ministry. This commission would ensure that what was promised in the policy documents is implemented.”

Mr Odinga noted that more than 70% of the country’s population is young, it should be a priority for any government to use this capacity.

“I firmly believe that we should use the power of the youth we have in this country … Young people can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you use them… so far the use has been a curse because they have not found the necessary resources to contribute positively to society”, announced the former Prime Minister.

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