By Daniel Otieno, Kakamega
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has thrown his weight behind the proposed National Youth Conclave spearheaded by ODM leader Raila Odinga, calling for urgent measures to enable meaningful youth participation, including the release of incarcerated youths and waiver of hospital bills.
Speaking during the nomination of new Chief Officers, Barasa emphasized that young people must be unburdened by legal and financial barriers if they are to actively engage in national dialogue.
“The youth cannot attend the Conclave while behind bars,” Barasa said, urging the national government to grant amnesty to youths jailed for minor offenses. He also appealed for the waiver of hospital bills for those struggling with medical debts, saying economic hardships have silenced many voices.
“We must free them both literally and economically to allow their full participation in this important conversation,” he added.
Barasa, who chairs the ODM Regional Chairpersons Committee, echoed Raila Odinga’s position that inclusive and intergenerational dialogue is the only way to resolve Kenya’s deep-rooted challenges.
“It’s through dialogue that the country’s problems can be solved,” he noted.
Barasa said he had already started grassroots engagement with youth groups in Kakamega. He recently held a forum with Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs and students from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
“In Kakamega, we have started those conversations. PS Fikirini Jacobs and I sat with Gen Zs and Millennials to listen to their concerns and now we want a nationwide version of that,” he said.
According to Barasa, the discussions have revealed key issues affecting young people, including unemployment, mental health struggles, and the rising cost of living.
