Encourage Youth Participation in Strategic Development Plans – Opiyo Wandayi

Ugunja Constituency Member of Parliament and Leader of Minority in the National Assembly, James Opiyo Wandayi on Thursday night called for greater youth involvement during the promulgation of government projects.

During a question-and-answer session in one of Siaya’s most active WhatsApp groups Wandayi acknowledged that while the Gen Z uprising was a new political phenomenon, inclusivity of youth in policy formulation could have averted the loss in lives, time and investments that the nation has, so far, incurred.

Wandayi also acknowledged that the pressure the youth had exerted on the Kenya Kwanza administration had bore fruits and the nation was poised to experience a landmark transition, one way or the other.

Referring to Ugunja Constituency Mr. Wandayi said they have encouraged youth participation in policy making processes, advocacy and legal matters.

He, as well, encourages issue-based criticism and gives goodwill to youth who do so objectively.

“If you have ever heard of  Ugunja Youth Parliament, then beware that we have always ensured this team is invited to our stakeholders fora that do inform formation of our development strategic plans, we have even sent the NG-CDF chairman and his PA to meetings of these youth to respond to queries this organisation have,” said Mr. Wandayi.

As a lone-wolf  he intermittently raised the issue in the National Assembly that there will be dire consequences if the government continues to suppress the voices of the youth, yet no one listened.

On NG-CDF Wandayi said:
“I think the biggest challenge NG-CDF has in Ugunja Constituency could vary time to time.
What is most pressing in the restrictions of the NG-CDF Act, and time it takes for some projects designs to get approved by the NG-CDF board in Nairobi. A good example is the the fact that we waited for over a year for the magistrates court design that was presented to us by the judiciary to be approved by the NG-CDF board… many other projects have suffered such delays before.”

The two-term Legislator decried the low-level of appreciation of the mandate of the Constituency Development Fund by locals.

“Another big challenge is that many people still do not quite clearly understand the roles of NG-CDF according to NG-CDF Act 2015.
People still make requests for intervention by NG-CDF of matters that the law has put it off from. I think the best way to improve the impact of NG-CDF is to first enhance awareness of the NG-CDF Act to our people and have it anchored in the constitution to avoid constant challenges by activists who do not understand how important these funds are to our people down in the ground.”

Speaking through a representative Mr. Nicholas Gwadi the MP reiterated his earlier claims that the NG-CDF is currently the most effective devolved fund.

“By the way one would agree with me that NG-CDF is the most effective of all devolved and decentralised funds one of which whose return to national pot can affect many people, especially those who depend on NG-CDF bursary for their education. In Ugunja Constituency we have several whose secondary school education are fully sponsored by NG-CDF due to their academic prowess and the financial incapability of their families.”

By formulating a Strategic Development Plan for each of the elective terms he has been in office Mr. Wandayi has managed to accomplish an enviable track record in establishment of new schools and improvement of existing education infrastructure. The result has seen Ugunja take a leading position in Siaya County during national examinations.

Data from the Education Pillar show that there is less school dropouts and more girls are transitioning from primary to secondary school while more students qualify from secondary into university and other institutions of higher learning.

The weekly online debate on County 041 is a reflection of the opening up of digital spaces for national dialogue and is moderated by veteran 

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