Young NIMD

At a Young NIMD seminar on 13 September, 30 members of political youth organizations in Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania and the Netherlands shared their experiences on leadership opportunities for young politicians and operating within the political system of their countries.

Compared to African youth wings the Dutch political youth organisations have a very small membership, with a mere 1% of the population between the age of 18 and 25 holding a membership card. In Africa it is permitted – and most common – to belong to several youth organisations simultaneously. In some cases a child is automatically a member of the youth wing of its parents’ political party.

Another difference is that the Dutch organisations are able to operate more independently from their mother parties, stimulated by the fact that they receive public funding for their activities. But does independence mean more influence? At the seminar, it was argued that operating independently or even outside the party - could also serve as a legitimate excuse for the mother parties to take them less seriously.


Footsoldiers

Despite their large membership African youth wings have little influence in politics, let alone on plans and policies concerning youth. During the seminar the African delegations expressed the need for their youth wings to set their own agendas and to propagate the interests of youth. Jane Njiru (28), youth coordinator of the Kenyan Ford Asili Party criticized the lack of engagement on the part of the mother parties: "Very few political parties actually reach out to the youth wings, except in election time, when our youth members serve as foot soldiers in political campaigns."

The African delegates stressed that it is time for a generational handover by the older politicians to the youth and that young politicians have a lot to offer. They can play an important role in tackling voter apathy amongst the very young electorate and they are more aware of the issues which concern the youth. As Jane Njiru, running for parliament in the December elections, stated, "Our politicians play the ‘ethnicity card’ all the time. But for the youth it is not an issue: ethnic rivalry is bad for the national economy and stability."

The youth seminar was concluded by all participants signing the Statement on Youth Participation, to underline their wish to continue to share knowledge and experiences in order to enhance youth participation in politics. For, citing the document: "the future of democracies depends crucially on the contribution of countries’ young people."

Or, in the more poetic words of Jane Njiru, MP candidate in Kenya’s next elections: "Give me a chance as a young person and I’ll do wonders."