Mombasa youth urged to take active role in county governance and accountability

Mombasa's youth have been asked to take a more proactive part in holding their county government accountable, with senior officials emphasising the importance of supervision outside formal legislative structures.

Mgeni Mboto, Director of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) and a well-known youth leader has urged young people in the region to actively participate in governance rather than waiting for opportunities to come their way.

"Our counties require us to step up. We have the enthusiasm and inventiveness required to effect change. It is time to take the initiative and become the leaders that our communities require," Mboto said.

Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki echoed Mboto's thoughts, emphasising that successful control of county government operations necessitates strong citizen participation, particularly among youth.

"Oversight is a shared responsibility. It cannot be delegated only to the County Assembly or the National Assembly. I am delighted by the youth's enthusiasm in governance, but we need more structured training and support to ensure they can carry out their responsibilities properly," he said.

On Saturday, they addressed the opening of the ISD - IRI Youth Cohort - Mombasa Project, which focuses on improving service delivery in Mombasa and is financed by the International Republican Institute.

Mohammed urged donors and non-governmental organisations to invest in projects that would prepare young people to participate in governance and monitoring.

"We must provide our youth with the appropriate tools. Their participation is critical in protecting public funds and ensuring that development initiatives reach their intended beneficiaries," he said.

Hassan Athman, chair of the Mombasa IRI Youth Cohort, revealed that the organisation is developing a comprehensive strategy to engage more young people in county governance activities.

"We are planning to engage every young person in Mombasa," Athman said. "I believe we have the potential to oversee our county's affairs effectively, and I call on all my peers to join us in this initiative."

Zedekiah Adika, chairman of the Coast Civil Society Network for Human Rights, has urged the national government to transfer monies to counties on schedule. He emphasised that civil society will support the youth in their supervisory role.

"Funds for county development must be disbursed without delay. The national government must adhere to the constitutional mission of counties. We, as civil society, will assist the kids in ensuring that this money is used appropriately and for their intended goals," he stated.

The Mombasa County Secretary, Jeizan Farouk, advised the youth to stay watchful and hold the county government accountable.

He told them that the county administration encourages their engagement.

"We have always involved the public in our projects, particularly through budgeting. With the youth's increased involvement, we expect even more transparency and responsibility in our operations," he stated.