"Hopelessness and desperation drives Youths to indulge into goonism" ///Riro Matthew ( Youth Leader)

All right, good morning. Welcome back. Thank you for staying with us. You're watching # Y in the morning. My good name is Brian Sanko. If you missed anything, I promise you'll find it at Y244 channel, YouTube, Instagram, everywhere for free. The hashtag is still Y in the morning at Brian Sako 101 is minds. Now, in this conversation, we're delving into M's youth and leadership. What are some of the current forces that are shamping the future of the youth especially when it comes to matters 2027 as we head to the ballot in the era of Nikocadi and getting ourselves ready for picking new leaders that will represent us as young people equally when it comes to matters youth and leadership and joining me live in studio I'll be speaking to economist Matthew Riro great to have you once again Matthew >> a pleasure too right let me start off by asking you what is getting your attention in the whole youth political leadership ship sphere that you think it deserves to be addressed especially when it comes to conversations and discussions that zero in on matters youth and leadership. Yeah, thank you so much for the opportunity to have uh this candidate discussion on what matters. Actually, youth leadership is a key aspect or component in any country and we have seen youths who have emerged to become the potential leaders and who has steered their countries to prosperity. >> Right? So um the what what steers youth to stand up is the agility that uh we've been always told that um uh it is time you're the you're the future of this country. So you you should be always stand up to take up the leadership. Okay. So we have waited until we have realized that turned to white while waiting. Right. Yeah, the future is actually now. >> That is actually the reason why we realize that um with education, with the right skills, you remember during Mobaki's time, >> right? >> He brought about the uh free education that enlightened most youths >> who are currently spearheading matters development and um uh the country going forward >> because this is all about our lives, >> right? Right. >> And we have realized that the moment we give the old guards the ability and the the capacity to rule us without us being involved in that table of um decision making, we realize that there are a lot of mistakes that are made. >> Yeah. >> Because then our views are not captured and that is to why youth representation >> in a government decision making table is so key. >> Yeah. And uh um we were not raised as cowards and that is why you see things running the way they are running >> right. >> I remember at some point in time uh um the the former president that is Kenya mentioning that the youth that are coming up >> they becoming a threat more than anything else. If they are not handled well, >> they can bring a country into a mess. >> Yeah. >> Because >> And by that, what do you mean? >> Yes. What a mess in in the sense that they stand for what is right. Unlike our forefathers who used to say just let things run. The ones who are in power, they >> or they call it the silent generation where they never really were loud about or vocal about change like it was it is what it is and the way they've said it and they just followed the rules. But you know what? Gen Z's and the youth at large are all about breaking the rules and you know turning the script upside down. In your perspective, what do you think maybe uh a picture of authentic leadership that's filled with virtues of integrity, honesty and ethics looks like if you are to describe authentic leadership? Authentic leadership is whereby um a leader is someone who is so transparent, who is accountable, who leads by example and not only mere words and you realize that um the genesis are becoming impatient because when they see resources being misallocated because um our parents or our forefathers never used to go through for example the reports from the auditor general. >> Mhm. how [snorts] finances are being spent, how money is mis mis mis mismanaged >> or misappropriated but you realize that agency is someone who gets information firsthand because they are equipped with the right skills. >> Yeah. >> And our leaders who are complaining actually they don't understand this aspect that when you equip a child with knowledge >> with a skill what do you expect that child to do with that skill? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, and they are very uncomfortable because the genesis are asking um the right questions >> and asking the right questions in this era is what is making them uncomfortable and that is what lands them into that is the younger generation into being abducted >> or being killed or being you know >> right >> because they asking the pertinent questions. >> Yeah. When you look at things like the Goonism culture that's currently taking center stage in a whole political sphere. Yeah. >> What do you think is the greatest cause of that? And if you are to get into office 2027, I don't know if you are vying in any of the election electoral positions when it comes to uh politics, how would you address it, but maybe you can start off with what do you think is triggering this huge chunk demographic of youth venturing into such heinous acts? >> You know that is what we call misallocation of resources. If resources were allocated in the right way, the youth could have been employed and they could have been having something useful to do for their lives. >> So, goism has been brought brought about by misappropriation. You you realize that uh the government sometimes directs resources to where they are they they least useful. They're not creating jobs as per the number of students or graduates [music] who are stepping out of the universities. So you don't educably spending the exact amount to create jobs for for these youths. >> Yeah. >> So unemployment is a a factor that uh I've never heard most um politicians talk about. >> Yeah. >> They prefer handouts as opposed to employment. So youth find themselves in the crossroad >> because you know God put the stomach in front for a reason. >> Yeah. >> So something to put on that stomach matters a lot. >> Yeah. >> So that is why you realize that if I was in a position to be in a decision making table as a youth. >> Yeah. First thing I must ensure that the youth have access to opportunities >> and not merely investing in their education without giving them >> the right place where maybe to work also. So hopelessness and desperation drives >> but also believe if a young person is equally grounded in let's say for example if you raised well you come from a good home where there's a present father present mother who trained you well home training I'm pretty sure there's no way you'll veer off the course and find yourself taking that route and unless you just became a rebel or something you know took over you but also when you look at that when you look at such a huge demographic of young people that are venturing into such acts uh they make up a huge uh demog rather a huge number of our population right here in Kenya but yet they're still under representation in terms of uh leadership so maybe what would you recommend in terms of them being fully represented in as much as we are all about activism and our CC took external conduct easy uh activism courses at some point Even you remember when the Gen Z protest broke out, the president was forced to come to X spaces and speak to them etc. What would be equal representation look like for the young people? Um actually that is where I I mentioned that um being on the table decision making table and that is what it means is that uh the youths is standing and going for uh elective positions not only to depend on you know uh the politicians sometimes uh have um formalized a kind of they they just initiate you to support them for you to to be either appointed or nominated. So of which sometimes they don't honor that kind of a agreement. So that is why we have decided as a youth we cannot only be a majority when it comes to mentioning on platforms. >> Yeah. >> We can be a majority by just going for elective positions and um uh seeking to be elected by our fellow youths because if we are many so it means that we we should be many in that decision making table. >> Yeah. And out of that we can make the right decisions because you see how do you expect a 70 year old person who has already educated their children to university and others grandchildren to make the right decision for your children >> they have already exhausted you know there's there is always dynamics there's changes you see now even the world is transitioning to AI and technological advancement so somebody who is 70 years old there are things that he cannot adjust And the youths are very impatient when it comes to decision making. >> Yeah. >> Because that is what drags them behind. >> So for them to um be in the right course, >> they must drive the vehicle. Not only become passengers [clears throat] in a vehicle, >> okay? >> But also in a world of digital activism and mobilization, how can they uh transform that online noise or online convergence into real political power? Because when you look at some of these movements and who are some of the people the forces that were leading them the professors of these young people kina kasmo kamura kbasu kina most of them are nowhere to be seen right now they're no show it's actually uh pin drop silence so how do you trans transform that or transition that online forces into real leaders that will go headto-head when it comes to 2027 >> you see um this the people that you have mentioned mentioned they lacked direction a little bit and that is why that leadership some sometimes requires direction and that is to why mentorship is key. So sometimes it depends on who is mentoring you. You get and what is the focus. Sometimes youths kill themselves out of uh what I mean by killing is the sense that they they can spread a notion a negative notion about you. Hence downgrading you to a point whereby you lose direction because when you are being hit right, left center by the people you purport to represent then sometimes you you lose direction. You know, we're human beings and sometimes we have emotions, but it uh it doesn't reach a point whereby >> you leave your emotions to overpower the right uh the right cause. >> Yeah. >> So that is to why I'm saying that uh uh those that you have mentioned sometimes um they underwent through criticism that they were unable to to absorb. So that is why some others fell apart. But you can see even is doing so well. >> Yeah. and he decided >> Kazmouth would you say he's he's on the right trajectory he's in the opposition >> he said Baba supported him >> I would prefer not to mention about Kaswell because a lot of things happened about him >> he made a lot of mistakes but then we are we are human beings so >> wherever he is I I >> yeah but do you think he would have been um some sort of like a very political powerhouse in terms of trying to be a leader for the young people especially with that old digital activism and online Ferrari, >> you know, that is why we pushed Mora so much to have an inject party, >> right? >> Because youths needed a representative other than joining the cano the what what kind of >> political outfits. >> Would it have been like a Gen Z kind of movement separate from current political vehicles? >> And if you look at it >> Yeah. >> Um that is my personal opinion >> and I want to be honest about this. >> Mhm. Um after Mora failed to get the or to register the injected party you realize that the people who were around him most of them they shifted to uh other political outfits like the DCP and so on. >> Mhm. >> Uh there were those who were left hanging >> and those ones are the now the forces that are behind >> Sufuna. >> You get? >> Yes. So the the and it is because not because he's um he's an angel or what he's a human being right but then the youths need someone whom they can they can accord or attach themselves to >> somebody of their caliber and a new outfit whereby now we can occupy those positions not that you you you defect from oh you just join the UDA then when you go to UDA you become just like a saucer, >> right? >> So you're not on the main menu but you realize what what happens. So they wanted those positions whatever that you have been saying >> that we want to occupy the positions >> and by occupying the position it means that we have a new outfit whereby >> we can be accommodated. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But also when you look at it, most of these young people you I think you mentioned at some point lack of sense of direction but we massively and passionately talk about mentorship even though some of them feel left out but also it looks like there's an intergenerational disconnect. If you to paint a picture of uh how an intergenerational partnership looks like in term in terms of us steerheading young people in the right direction because mentorship is part of it and you can only be mentored maybe by your senior or somebody who has accomplished a place you dream of. So maybe what would it look like especially in terms of leadership so that these young people are routed in the right direction. It looks like these older folks are not welcoming these young people who are passionate about leadership. Most of them even who've been through this show they're saying Galesia and those that have managed to join them have actually been absorbed and disappeared and Luke Kasm or it's only Mara Kbasi you mentioned who's prominently doing well. So what does intergenerational partnership look like with you? Um you know sometimes in the generation of that kind of leadership um in my view our parents needs to understand that you have come of age to take the mantle. So uh for them sticking so so long or too long or taking too long in power I I don't know what they intend to achieve because you realize that most politicians they group themselves as far as interests are concerned. So they want purposely to serve their own selfinter >> creation. We want to live in a clean environment whereby we we can access to education >> resources are one >> health. Yes. And um that is affordable health for everyone. That is why it should be universal not just for [clears throat] their few. And you realize that uh Kenya is um a potential country. >> Yeah. >> When you had during Uru's time that we lose around 2 billion in a day. >> Yeah. >> In fact, 1 billion is lost on traffic every day. >> Are you getting? So there is a lot more that we have in terms of resource endment that we are not utilizing >> and that is to why the youths are impatient. They are not impatient because they are not disciplined. They are not impatient because they are no direction. >> They are impatient because those who are on the on the leadership positions are not doing the right thing. >> But let me ask you in terms of partnership, what does it look like with the older folks welcoming these young people who want to take over these same same spaces cuz it looks like there's a breakdown and dysfunction in >> and that thing happened or happens in every family. You realize if today you could have told your parent that you need some 10 acres if you have 100 or so for you to do ABCD you need your share >> they say you are too young to handle so sometimes they might decide because they feel like power they get threatened when the youths are in power >> really >> yeah it is a threat because if it were not they could have even from the family setup they could have given you your resources such that you can handle them you can make mistakes such that they are now in a position to even correct you. >> So that is why you realize that a parent can stand with their inheritance and they inherited sometimes these things are in inherited >> but the parent can stay for so long without kind of wealth until even dies and then you you find that families are scrambling for >> that kind of >> and let me ask you when you picture somebody like Mr. Vinnie who's been in power for 40 plus years. Uh what is are there not enough young people in that country to ouster him out of that seat or it looks like some of these uh leadership uh positions uh uh right here in our country think way back used to say dynasties politics of dynasties and etc. What makes it harder for these people to exit office and young people to take over? Even though in our country right here, I think this is the first generation. It's one of a kind where at least they're trying to, you know, tell these guys, you know what, if you don't exit, we will ouster you. >> Yeah. >> And that's why you're seeing this must go this, must do that, must come here, must go out here. >> What makes it hard for them to exit? Like you're done with your stint and thank you. You've served well. >> You know, go rest. Yeah, >> if I may say power is sweet to those who have tested it >> because when you're on the decision making you decide who gets what and that is why lack of young representation becomes a problem because they are not after equity. They are not after resource the right places. That is why you realize that in people don't have electricity. So if you think that when you Nairobi, you might think that every part of Kenya is like Nairobi. But if you move outskirts of town um you'll realize that people are suffering. So these people who are in power sometimes they tend to think that power was only meant for them. >> Yeah. >> It is something that you know there is kind of that kind of is it monarchical kind of governments. >> Yeah. Yeah, it never left the African setting or kind of reasoning. >> People believe that you realize that politicians there is a way they are more or less of relatives because their children have intermarried with. So they are families that they they intend to >> uh to lean on in terms of leadership. They can't entrust you with the leadership. And you know there is this factor that is so important that uh people tend to assume but it is real. >> Yeah. Having a financial muscle when it comes to politics is very essential. Sometimes you can have a good leader with vu but >> if you don't have that muscle >> or if you don't align well with people >> sometimes with with the political class >> they can outshine you. Does it matter now like right now for you to be a president you need like 40 billion K shillings to campaign >> you know ground uh ground uh mobilization or ground appearance matters >> you can't just stay in television how many how many Kenyans have a television set on their homes >> yeah they are on digital platforms >> yes but they are those who really votes you know they are real votes >> those mas in the village >> in the villages yes >> so how do you reach out to them by going there Yes, you must go to the ground and >> so you need means you need facilitation and mobilization security a lot of things. So that will cost you. Yes, actually you're very right. >> And that is why you even see Sona with a pay bill, >> right? >> Yeah. Because And that is why you hear even other politician cry that Sona is being funded by Uru, >> right? >> Yeah. That is the main reason because they know for you to mobilize all those resources, it it is it needs a financial muscle, >> right? So sometimes lack of finances for the young generation is also another aspect that has made them to shy off from these positions because for you even to register for political party >> needs money for you to make anything move from you for you to move from one even if it is an MCA position it's not it's not just like you wake up and walk and do what you let me ask you sorry to cut your thoughts off hold on to your thoughts don't lose it >> how do you strike a a a contrast between tokenism and politics of integrity cuz you need money to campaign. these people on groundwater demand bonati chai and I'm picturing all kalao right how do you ensure that it's not trying to um twist you know people to make them believe you have resources yes you're a good person but then when all of that is done when you enter office lines of communication go off it's now a hierarchy it's actually a whole structure of communication before you are now reached to respond to some of their issues When do we end this? And also, how do you contrast between integrity and politics of tokenism? Cuz we used to kit doggo, right? Is it the brown envelope? Yeah. And that's just corruption anyways. Whether it's new, even in getting into jobs, most of these jobs, you must have networks and connections for you to get them. Somebody must know somebody. You could audition. Maybe they're just doing it for publicity. So how do you strike integrity and ensure that it's a clear line? >> You know um let me start here. A network is not a bad thing because for you to know that there is oil in Turkana and you live in Kakamega, you must get either to have that to have that information requires that you at least you can access maybe to the internet or information or so you know. So now what I mean when it comes to the the the the interconnect between the two you realize that um the nichi nowadays they are not fools and to ensure that at least they are they are up to date when it comes to information on what is happening around if you don't have money it needs you to be so calculative >> because politics is all about calculations. So and uh the scope of your operation. You can't you can't go for presidency if you can't meet the underlying factors. >> So and leadership or change does not only come when you go for the the highest seat on the on the land. >> Yeah. >> Leadership begins at from the lowest form of setup. >> Yeah. >> So doing the right thing in every point in life matters a lot. >> Yeah. So that is what I can see. >> Yeah. In fact, Robin Sharma says, "Be a leader of self first. If you can't lead yourself, how will you lead others?" So you lead south and then you lead the household. I'm told you're on a time bon. So as we exit, what would be your say your call to action for young people that are envisioning themselves to take over leadership in 2027? I understand the Nikoki initiative and movement. I think it has already reached its peak. I think you're seeing some of the uh frontiers leading it. I think some of them are disappearing but even though it had a lot of vibrancy. What is your call to action to them? And then also in terms of accountability too as well. I want you to summarize it. How can we hold each other accountable as leaders as young people that are looking forward to take over leadership positions cuz this comes across even building careers networks jobs politics etc. It's all about leadership. Please go ahead and stare look at them straight in the eye in the >> the call to action when it comes to youth leadership. We must stand to the uh to the to the right cause because this is our life that is being messed up. So it cannot be messed up under our watch. We have watched it for far too long and it is time for youths to stand up and carry the mantle and run with it. Make decisions that are affecting them personally and they're affecting their generations to come. Um number two, if I were to say uh if you need integrity, you must lead by example because you can't talk about integrity but at your personal level you don't have that integrity. So as we call for the the cause for action, we must lead by example ourselves. Number so to mention um not forgetting about the government. Sometimes resources are scarce but being scarce does not mean that we misappropriate them to make sure that now it is not even scarce. It is not nowhere to be seen or nowhere in circulation. So uh what I can add is uh let's have priority spending and live within our means. we can't uh sweet talk or talk to households telling them that uh let's live within our means but as a government uh we just want to live beyond our means borrow beyond our means and uh so pushing the the burden far beyond the generations to come. So the government should put resources where they deserve like number one talk about the healthare pump resources in healthcare in education and not only in education but ensure that the kids or the the those who are exiting uh school and going for employment and there are opportunities that have been created already for that because there is a public uh private partnership that should happen for the government to train the right people for the right jobs. not just to train people who becomes h goons outside here, >> right? >> So the right resources should be chneled to the the right uh projects such that the government can benefit as a whole, >> right? And the youth too specifically because they're the ones who I believe they say young people are the future. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Do you believe they are the future of leadership? >> We are definitely and remember you cannot be the future for for forever. You're just the future for a season. >> If today you are a youth, tomorrow you are a parent, >> right? >> Yeah. So now you're not only preparing yourself for the future, but the future of your kids and of your literally that makes sense. Are you available on LinkedIn >> where they can plug in with you? >> LinkedIn? No, but uh >> social where are you available? Please tell them. >> Yeah. Um I'm available on uh X as Lee Riro uh and also on Facebook at uh as Matthew Rio. Yeah. >> Right. So someone thank you so much for your invaluable insights Mr. Economist Matthew Rro. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. Coming up is an interesting conversation as well in an era of AI infusion uh trying to have digital visibility and also balancing between education. How do you actually curate a very reputable career in the noises of digital activism and so much more that you've talked about right here with Mr. Matthew? That's the next conversation coming up next with James Johnson. So we take a break, we come back. Hashtag is in the morning at Y24 channel. See you on the other side in a bit. Here [music] we are.