YOUTH AND LEADRSHIP: THE DANGERS OF PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

MU-IUPUI 2010 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PEACE

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACE, RECONCILLIATION AND DEVELOPMENT

YOUTH AND LEADRSHIP: THE DANGERS OF PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

 BY

Godwin Ong'anya, +254 723 877 098 Email onganya@yahoo.com

Department of History, Political Science and Public Administration, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, P.O BOX 3900-30100.

Abstract

Debates have been advanced in favour of youth in positions of political and policy leadership. It is true that youth provide the force for economic process and so there should be a clear manifestation, and not merely manifestoes on how the youth could be engaged in the socio-political and economic production force of any society. It has been argued that the youth are the leaders of the future, a future that may be desired indefinitely. This advances perpetual hope to the youthful generation, who only get to leadership in their elderly ages. This paper disputes the notion that the youth should wait for "tomorrow's" leadership, and instead engage the society to prove their capabilities and attempts to wrestle power from the olden generation. For the general population, the paper argues that it is not appropriate to divide in blocs, where the youth vote for a youth and the old vote for the old. Instead, there should be a rational consideration where both young and old are considered as leaders to be enlisted in positions of influence in terms of capability and vision. The paper emphasises the need for recognition of experience, arguing that lack of experience often turns out disastrous. Systems should be made to adapt to reality, according realism and pragmatism more consideration than theory and ideology in handling leadership. Empowerment needs to concentrate on economic rather than political and personal considerations. Personal effort can also guide on selection of leaders rather than age, as this would be a sure recipe for conflict, leading to injustice.