Raila Odinga has realized that he needs the youth fighting at his corner if he is to win the presidency in 2020.
This partly explains why of late he has been focusing his political rhetoric on the youth development agenda as he seeks to sell his policies to the Kenyan voters.
Just recently, the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) leader assured Kenyans that President Uhuru Kenyatta and himself would accept the Court of Appeal decision on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) – a matter that is in the court.
On Sunday, July 18, Odinga took to Facebook to address Kenya’s youth.
This is a good move given Facebook is the playground for most youths.
China trip
Odinga described in his Facebook post how he would airlift Kenyan youth to China to learn certain skills for their own growth – and that of the country.
The post read in part: “When did you last see a product with a label made in Kenya?
“I have some ideas on how we can have many made in Kenya products in supermarket shelves and shops in a sustained manner that ensures home grown industrialization.
“Nations that have done it started by paying attention to skilled laborers like mechanics, tailors, carpenters, hair dressers, cooks before graduating into other high-tech aspects of industrialization. Every two years since the 1950s, young people with exceptional skills have gathered in some city in some part of the world for World Skills Competition, otherwise known as “Skills Olympics.”
We have old members of our party
Speaking in Kwale recently, Odinga invited young blood to the party, a message well-tailored to appeal to the youth as 2022 general elections near.
“We have old members of our party. What we are doing is allowing an opportunity for the younger people to also join the party so that they can meaningfully participate in the planning and management of the party as we head into the polls,” he said.
“This registration is a process of inclusion to bring new blood into the party so that they can join and work together with the older members to make the party stronger.”
Get more people
ODM is also using the same strategy in Kwale County to get more people into the party.
Meanwhile, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) led by Deputy President William Ruto is doing just fine.
The party has no shortage of young blood, vibrant youths who are fighting tooth and nail at Ruto’s corner.
On the other hand, ODM has been seen a party of the old, a rhetoric Odinga s keen to change.