Young Women at the Forefront with Hon.Naomi Ngatia

Karibu Sana my amazing and beautiful people. It's me again your TV host of the year Eliza Kimani and we are on Y in the morning here on Y254 channel. Yes. If you've just joined usa it's exactly 30 minutesu. Yes. and you are here to watch this amazing segment that we're going to be having and we're going we still are going to have an amazing day. Today is on a Wednesday and we have we always have great great great discussions and as a lady as a young woman as I am I am very excited when I host and when I am able to interact with great minds of young women as well. And so in the house today, yes, her name is Honorable Naomi and she is the nominated MCA in Yandara County. Yes, it's amazing when we are with great minds in the house. And so all those political questions that you've been having, this is the time to channel them. Send the questions to us on Pal Facebook. We're going to be having our post pal Facebook. And if you have anything, a question to her or a comment you want to say, two time I don't want to know but in short what I'm saying is feel very free to tell us anything in regards to this amazing conversation and let me tell you guys she is looking amazing after this she's looking amazing secret anyways good morning >> good morning how are you >> say hi to my people I am very fine >> um good morning to the viewers of uh Y in the morning. >> Y in the morning. It's a pleasure to be here and uh I bring greetings from Yandara County. I greet the people of Nandara, the young people I represent in my county. >> Yeah. >> Amazing. Um the exact is it constituency? Yeah, >> it's a w I represent a ward, but as a nominated MCA for youth, I I represent all the young people in the county. So I don't have a specific ward that I represent. I represent all the youth and all the young women in the county. >> You know I'm asking that because I am my mom is in Ala. That's where I live. That's where I my Ushago is. So I am excited to host my homie guys. [laughter] >> And your MCA. >> Yeah. And my MCA as well. Oh, I am very very excited. I'll take a selfie and send my my mom and tell her you see you see what I'm doing out here. Anyways, let's dive into this amazing uh discussion. As a young woman, most of the times people fear to be in politics because we've seen the face of politics uh old men and people who have been in politics for a long period of time, but here you are a young woman and strong and you're doing this, you're already nominated. What like what drives you and um how how is it being in the forefront? >> Um One message I normally give to young people whenever I'm in the county, I tell them one, anything is possible. >> If you can dream it, you can achieve it. >> And two, the space is not only for leadership space, political spaces is not only a male centered field. >> Um, leadership is all round. >> It should not be gender based. Just because you're a woman, you get elected. Just because you're a man, you get elected. just because of your age you get elected. It should be focusing on one >> agendas. What agenda do you have in mind for the society? What better uh thing do you want to do to better the community? Also, you should look at the integrity of a person uh as a whole and uh the vision that they have and what they bringing to the table. So that is something that I always challenge young people and young women who are aspiring for leadership positions. And what keeps me going is what uh the vision I have for my county. When I was coming into leadership, I wasn't just coming in just to be elected and to be seen that I I hold a position or I have a honorable >> before my name. I wanted to see a change in my county. I wanted to see reforms in legislature. I wanted to oversight how money is used. I wanted us to make sure we implement what we already have. Yeah. >> Amazing. And when you talk about that um I've seen right now so um I think after the Jenzi u Mandamano and all that uh so many young people came about and they were like you know what I think um these guys have been on this for so long and it's upon ourselves to now come and own the place and uh we seeing so many young people now getting into politics as a young person. How do you feel about that right now? So many young women are I see posters everywhere right now and we are headed in 2027. We are now we are going to do our elections meaning very many people are going to start campaigning and we are seeing I think this is the first time so many young people have gotten into politics. So what do you think is the uh driving factor for that? >> I believe uh this generation so many people are saying Gen Z they are now challenging the status quo. They're now challenging what has been there for a long time and the culture that has been there in leadership for a long period of time. >> And uh one I feel very inspired. I'm very happy as an individual to see my fellow young people taking up uh leadership roles. I've seen we have seen uh just the other day young parliamentarian Noro launched a political party. He's a young person. We have seen uh many young people who like um honorable Sifuna who is a senator. He also is leading a movement of Linda Wananchi and we are seeing so many young people are taking up roles even those who are aspiring in their home counties in their communities for MCA roles and even for MP roles, senatorial roles. It is a big inspiration. It shows that uh as a country and even as a society we are moving away from uh the politics of uh telling people that the leadership role or this a certain role is only >> for a caliber a certain caliber we are moving away from that culture and now we are proving that Kenya has evolved in other nations we are able to see cabinet secretaries who are very young as young as 27 year olds >> and uh >> this is showing that even as a country we are evolving >> and we need to move with that trend. So I will encourage all young people take up your space fight for that space. If you have the agendas, if you have the development strategy, go and talk to their people and lay out your plans. And I'm sure so many young people where I come from as an MCA, I share an assembly with uh a young MCA who was elected without any he didn't have a background of politics. He his family does not have a background of politics and yet the people believed in him because of his development agendas and they elected him. So this should be an inspiration to all young people who aspire to be leaders in 2027 to take up that space and fight for your space and be there. Let your voice be heard. >> Amazing. And do you think the society is ready um to have more young people in leadership because you know it's not been a thing that has been there and most of the times if there is a young person it's either one or two but right now um as it looks like so many young people are going to be in politics and they're going to be elected. So do you think the society is really prepared um to have young women and young people being the on the forefront and being the leaders? >> Um I believe that you don't wait for the society to be ready. You you don't wait uh we always there's a saying that goes that uh the leaders the the young people are leaders of tomorrow but these days we say that young people are the leaders of today. Don't wait for the society or somebody to tell you that you'll be ready. You need to take up that space. As long as you have the vision for the country or the society or where you the position that you want to be, as long as that you have the discipline and you have the integrity and you have all these values that are required for a leader, you can always take up any position and you can always fight for your space to be around there. And I believe uh the society will give you a space if you fight for it. As we have seen uh so many young people we are seeing >> these movements that are being led by young people and actually the young people are at the forefront and the others and the society is following behind. And to show this is to show you that even our uh those who have been in the political or leadership roles for example uh certain MPs who are following Linda Monanchi or certain MPs who are following another movement or for example for me because I I'm in the government and I support UDA we have >> young um PSS like Fikarini we have a young CS um in daughter who's who's actually leading so many engineers under him and they follow what he actually brings on the table because he has a proper plan for the people of Kenya. >> Amazing. I've heard you say as long as you have integrity and you're ready to lead. uh but maybe you can also tell us what role does education play when it comes to leadership because I feel like at some point um some someone needs to get to a certain level even to be elected or to to v for a seat there's a certain level of uh education that you need so that you can be elected in a s certain position so maybe you can tell us about that well the constitution provides for example if you want to be a state official like an MCA you need a minimum certain requirement uh that is a form for certificate if you want to be an MP of course a degree a governor and whatn not according to the position you want to v for but then again I always challenge people where I'm from there are women who have chama groups and when they sit at a round table and they're having their meetings they elect they choose one person they say for example mama nani you'll be the leader of you'll be the chairperson of this group. And that shows you that leadership is not does not only start at being an elected uh state official. It begins there at the grassroots. >> If uh 20 people can elect you to lead them as a mobilizer, as a chairperson in whatever ranking, then it means you have those values that these people are looking for. So the next step would be to look for the other qualifications. If you want to be a state official, what other requirements are provided in the constitution? Then that would be the next step. But as long as you have uh the leadership qualities and you have people who actually see your vision and they're ready to support you, then I believe you can be a leader. >> Amazing. Um I have just remembered the very many people or it's a slogan that you said most of the times that politics is a dirty game and you are already in politics. So maybe you can help us understand is it really true and how dirty is this game? I believe um the reason I can't say it's a dirty game, but uh maybe the perception that leads to people saying that is because of the challenges that come with being in politics. When you're on when you're a politician, you have to show your people what you're doing for them, which means you have to be on social media, >> which also puts you in a position where you are uh subjected to cyber bullying, online harassment. You know, people can plan on when you're going to your next meeting and maybe your opponent is not happy with what you're doing on ground and now they want to harass you. So that is why maybe uh that perception is there. But then again those are just a few challenges that we might uh that might you might um >> face >> face when you are a leader and you when you're a politician but that should not deter you to the end goal that you have for your people. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Amazing. Um now most of the times again people feel like the the politicians are very nice and sweet people when they're looking for the votes but then once we vote them in ani mahal different and those kinds of things and especially for now people like MCAs you know for MC you live around that area you've probably grown up there like you have you have a relationship with the people and now the moment you've in a lecture to this position, they never see you anymore or maybe they have now to have appointments to find you or something like that. And I'm not saying that's what everyone does, but that is a situation that many people experience. So what do you think is always the problem? We voted them in, but then they've changed automatically. So what is the issue? What what is always wrong with is it the people? Is it that they were hiding their clothes and then now like what what really happens? >> Um I believe that uh people don't change just because they came into power and uh you are just able to see um that person on a different uh scale and who they were. But uh it's a challenge to many leaders that we should again I go back to integrity as a leader when the moment you're given that mandate to be a representative of your people you should take up that space with a lot of integrity. These people have given you a position that you be their voice. You speak on their own behalf. So you should not go there and speak on your own behalf. You should be in that uh assembly or any other role leadership position that you are in to speak on the issues that are affecting your people. So it's just a challenge to all the voters to make sure that you vet anybody who is coming to request that they represent you. >> Yeah. >> In any capacity. Uh the society should vet all these people. We find even in the small grassroot chama groups there are people who are elected to be the chairperson or a treasurer of a small chama and then they run away with the money. >> Yeah. >> So it's about integrity of an individual and the integrity of that leader. >> Amazing. Um that explains it uh because most of the times like you're saying it's about who you are. And this position that you get just exposes who you are hiding or who you have been all along and it's quite understandable when we think about political intolerance. Um how does that affect young women leaders and what do you think the government should do about it? >> Um young leaders especially young women face a lot of challenges in politics. M >> uh and these are amplified. You are able to see it in an amplified manner as compared to men because the harassment is more um I can say it it's more intense because you'll be judged based on are you married, do you have children, h how is your husband, how what do they do, where do your children go to school and your children. So whatever happens even in a small family unit it's amplified to be you as an individual >> and this makes many young women shy away from exposing themselves maybe to to to putting placing themselves in that political position because they are afraid of the public scrutiny. But then again uh the government our constitution is actually very good because it gives uh protection to young women and uh in the constitution we see on article 81 and 27 about the two3 gender rule. So it's able to protect women to get representation in uh any capacity of leadership executive or any other appointment position and also then again the government has set measures. We have now uh NCIC which was created after a lot of harassment and a lot of political uh I can say it was a lot of political a very tensed political atmosphere that u developed NCIC. So we were able to see leaders being whipped. some leaders when they go out of uh proportion and they're intimidating their opponents, we are seeing that they're being whipped and they're being called to order. >> Yeah. >> And then also political parties are able to stand up. You have seen Kwapa uh other political bodies that they are fighting for women. anytime there is a an issue that has been raised where some uh somebody in leadership a woman is being intimidated or any other gender they're able to speak out and say no no no we cannot allow that we cannot tolerate that let's work amicably let's tolerate each other and speak on gender based issues so you can um encourage any person that probably that is a fear they had that when they get into politics they are safe and they are well kered and protected Yeah. >> Yeah. I believe that the government is doing is placing proper measures because um we are able to see a bit of um when something happens we are able to see uh the police is working on it. NCIC is working on it. Other women bodies Kwapa political parties are are standing up for people. So we are able to see progress. Yeah. >> Okay. Um most of the times like we've seen a story like what happened in Homa Bay and um goons are there at times some leaders some other leaders you know and it was so chaotic and all that. So what's your take um when it comes to all these issues especially with the goonism because um it's something that it's it wasn't the but in aasa like that's the trend when someone doesn't want you to talk to your people and I goons and I disrupt your meeting and all that. So what do you think like what's your take when it comes to that? Um first of all my message would be to young people because many a time you see young people are at the forefront being mobilizers. Young people are the ones who are uh talking on behalf of maybe a political party or they are speaking on behalf of a certain politician on the ground. So my message would be first young people do not be at the front line to be the ones leading violence. Do not be the ones who are called upon to fight your opponent because we only have one Kenya. Elections will come and go but development will still be with us. So let us uh argue based on issues. Let us argue based on development agendas and not based on insults. Let us not do politics of insults and intimidation. And it was very unfortunate uh what happened and um but we are seeing that the government is working on it and is doing something to make sure that this does not occur again again. Um I go back to NC we have seen that they have also taken up uh issues on harassment and political the uh individuals who are bringing political tension in the country. So as I conclude on on that um I would just urge young people do not allow yourself to be used to cause chaos or mayhem. If you're a leader, if you're an aspirant for 2027, just be there and argue based on real issues. We saw the other day that um a young politician, he launched his political party, but then again, you see even on that side, he's been told, "No, you cannot you cannot be in opposition. You cannot be in this part. You cannot do this." So let us even even though I'm not even in opposition, it is it is concerning to see that for them they're fighting amongst themselves. One young person is fighting another young person. So it's very unfortunate. Maybe we should be politically tolerant of each other and argue based on ideologies and argue based on what we are bringing to the table and what we are bringing to the people. >> Amazing. I see time is really flying but maybe you can tell us what's your uh next political move. What are you planning to do? Um what are some of the changes that you plan to bring um to the people to your people and what should people expect from you? >> Um so far I have done amazing things for my people in Yandara County. When I went to the county as a young person, I was in my early 20ies, fresh from university. So I met a lot of challenges especially for young people. So I brought up Kazim Tani that is Nandaraa sorry [clears throat] Niandaraa youth service and I allocated 50 million in financial year so that it can cater to any person doing uh cleanup county cleanup or any other small jobs they get >> they get reminerated >> also I have pushed for feeding program for ECD children so these days young children in ECD in our county are getting a cup of porridge and a banana early in the morning. >> So there are other policies I've also pushed. But then again, when I look to the future, I see myself sting been in politics and I see myself still leading and fighting for my people and even making Nandaro a better county. As at now I'm still in consultations with my grassroot leaders and my people of Nandarao and in due course they will advise me on where they want me to sit moving forward. >> Wow. Amazing. Uh it's quite interesting when you say that and um speaking from uh the fact that you're helping the kids and the young people that just shows where your heart is for the people because now these children are the one that's that are growing up to become young people. And now the fact that you're helping both the young people and the kids is amazing and beautiful. So um we have like three minutes. So I want to to let you now say whatever probably you feel like you would want to say. Um to the people that are watching probably it's directly to the people of Kenya or to the people of Jandero County. Yeah. Whoever it is that you would want to direct your message to. You can go ahead. Um one I would like my message would be to the young people >> I remind them then again let's anybody who is any young person who is aspiring for a political position uh bring your agendas on board bring your vision on board and let it be uh issue based politics don't do the politics of insults don't do the politics of harassing your opponent >> when you go to the society and you're given a microphone, tell them what you have in store for them because that is what has brought us this far as a country. And for example, we see projects in um vision 2030. Some have been implemented and others are still ongoing and we have seen the president just the other day with consultations of different sectors. Even last night he was doing consultations with um health sector practitioners and we are seeing the vision that he has for this country. So my advice would be to them uh to all young people and all aspirants at large. Bring the issues that you believe will change the country and you believe will change your society or where you are aspiring to be. that road project when you build that road post 2027 or it will outlive you that hospital will outlive you. >> Yeah. >> That policy that you bring for example the constitution that we have which is very good. It has outlived many people who fought for it to be where it is now. Which is why young people like us have the opportunity. Which is why we have multipartism in this country because there are people there are leaders at some point who set their differences aside and they worked based on the vision they have for this country. So this country can be a first world country. I believe we can go very far if we work together. If we all uh do politics of um issues and development agendas then we can go very far as a country. But um if we are always fighting each other and we are always causing harassing each other then we cannot move as quickly as we as we should. Yeah. >> Amazing. Um that's uh such a great um advice especially for young people because like you're saying you know at times um someone said that we all have a piece of the pie like it's large enough to cater for all of us. We should not fight each other as if the piece is so small or as if you know the mindset we we've grown up knowing that there's always just one person number one number one you not doing anything but right now we can see that we can all be at the top so there's no need to fight any other person for any position because um if we all do what we can do from where we are then that's how our country gets to grow but maybe you can tell us where people would find you online if someone wants to reach out to you um or maybe connect with you. Yeah, you can go ahead. >> Um I'm on Facebook now, Tik Tok now Mingatia, uh Instagram, Threads, X. I'm on all social platforms as Natia or Mingatia. >> Okay, amazing. Thank you so much for honoring us and we are very excited and honored to have you today and uh we are looking forward to another time where we have probably a very long period of time to talk about you inspiring us as young women and what we should do you know and talking to us because I feel like uh you you are a motivation to so many of us if you're in politics and you're thriving that means oh my god you are like so like we look forward and uh we look up to people like you. Thank you so much for honoring us today. It has been an amazing discussion and I know that my people have learned a thing or two. But now time kido and we are going to be seeing each other tomorrow. This is why in the morning here on Y254 channel, make sure that you don't go anywhere because we still have a lot lined up for you. But for us, our time is over. See you tomorrow. Oh, my good name is Eliza Kimani, the TV host of the year 20. You can find me on all my social media platforms at Eliza Kimmani. This is Y254 channel. >> [music]