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YY: Mobilizing the youth vote for the referendum! **
We are gathered here to announce to the nation and launch the young people's outfit that is campaigning for the proposed constitution of Kenya. The youth outfit dubbed "Youth for Yes group" or if you like "YY group" has already established a grassroots network for rolling out it is campaigns program. We are brought together and guided by the conviction that the proposed constitution of Kenya is about the future of this country, it is about the new generation, it is about a new vision for Kenya, it is about a new leadership and it is about the youth of Kenya.
As the majority beneficiaries, and having read the proposed constitution, the youth represented here today are also convinced it contains a lot of goodies for Kenya’s young people and brings us closer to the ideal Kenya that we have long fought for. In particular, and by way of example:
1. Under the proposed constitution of Kenya there will be greater youth representation in all levels of government and this will assure young people that it will no longer be mere tokenism to be given a chance at leadership.
2. The elaborate bill of rights will guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms that are essential to nurturing and advancing creativity and innovation towards youth empowerment for bringing about change.
3. Decentralised government will afford young people all over the country opportunities that will no longer require them to travel to Nairobi to access. The allocation of resources that comes with decentralised government will ensure opportunities for work right at home and reduce unemployment.
It is therefore only fitting that at this defining moment in history the youth must stand up and be counted in their numbers at the ballot box.
The goal of the Youth for Yes group is to clearly un-package the goodies in the proposed constitution and to vigorously campaign for the proposed constitution to pass at the Referendum by an overwhelming 80% vote in its favour. YY group has to this end established at constituency and ward level, grassroots committees that will be instrumental in selling the case for the proposed constitution, mobilising and getting out the yes vote at the Referendum.
As we launch this important vehicle for ushering in permanent and positive change in Kenya, we wish to urge:
1. Our fellow youth and every Kenyan that is yet to be registered, to access the nearest electronic voter registration centre and secure themselves a voter’s card. This being the last day of the voter registration exercise there is still a window of opportunity to make your individual voice heard come the Referendum, towards the Kenya that you want.
2. All Kenyans, but especially the youth, to come out and vote by the numbers as early as possible come 4th August, 2010. The YY group will in the run-up to the Referendum be working hard to ensure that the Referendum delivers an emphatic and resounding yes vote in favour of the passing of the proposed constitution of Kenya.
3. Each Kenyan should in the upcoming campaign period be a peacemaker and must vigorously resist being used by the retrogressive and self-fulfilling con-politicians that are keen to protect their selfish ambitions and vested interests by fighting the change whose time has come.
4. Each Kenyan must get fully and keenly involved in civic education on the proposed constitution of Kenya. We must each obtain and read the proposed constitution of Kenya for ourselves and to our illiterate or otherwise challenged brothers and sisters, democratically discuss its contents amongst ourselves and guard against half-truths, propaganda and lies from con-politicians.
The proposed constitution of Kenya presents a golden opportunity to define the future of this country. It is of utmost importance that Kenyans make an informed and clear decision at the ballot box. The youth are using this opportunity to put to notice elements of past impunity, injustices, corruption, land grabbing and bad leadership that no longer will Kenyans tolerate the consequences of these elements’ mis-actions and inactions to ravage and decimate our well being and our children’s future. These elements must not be allowed to pretend to assume the moral ground of guiding Kenyans towards a new constitution when they themselves dug Kenyans into the hole that we find ourselves. The young people wish to assure Kenyans that we are firmly in charge and will ensure that no one or group of persons will attempt to derail or even dare to sabotage this opportunity for Kenyans to secure themselves a new constitution and a new and positive future.
Signed for the YY team:
George Nyongesa
National Steering Committee
