YOUTHS, THE HEROES AND HEROINES OF THE FUTURE|

TODAY’S YOUTHS ARE THE HEROES AND HEROINES OF TOMORROW
By Maritim Kipngetich

PHOTO: Deputy President William Ruto addressing Kenyans who converged at Nyayo Stadium to celebrate Mashujaa Day. The deputy president said youths are the heroes and heroines of tomorrow.

The young people who are present today are the heroes and heroines of the future, the deputy president of Kenya, William Ruto, has said.

Speaking during Mashujaa Day cerebration held at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, the deputy president said youths of today should be empowered so that they can be the leaders of tomorrow. Ruto singled out education as the main vessel which can be used to navigate the young people to be heroes and heroines of the future who can positively contribute to the development of the nation. He said the government has increased funds to primary and secondary schools in this financial year to enable children attend school at a cheaper cost.

“We have, this year, increased the allocation of money to primary schools from 10 billion to 14billion shillings, so that more children can access education. We have also increased the money available for secondary education from 20 billion to 28 billion shillings to give opportunity to millions of our children to access education,” he said.

Over the years, the children emanating from less-endowed families have not been doing their exams because they cannot afford to raise registration fee. Mr. Ruto said the government will pay registration fee to every child who intends to register for exams in both standard eight and form four.

“The government has also made it possible that all children in standard eight and form four will now seat for their examination without paying any examination fee because the government has decided that going forward all our children from all backgrounds when they get to standard eight or form four can do their exams,” Ruto said.

He said that will make all children be equal and have an opportunity to be the heroes and heroines of the future.

The government will make sure that the skills and expertise of the youths are fully utilized to bring development in the nation, Ruto says.

Ruto also said the building of the standard –gauge railway, which is one of the Jubilee government’s top most agenda, will kick off next month.

“The construction of the standard-gauge railway which has been waited for hundred years will start in November,” he said.

He also added that the engineers and contractors of the first 2000 kilometres of roads to be built met this week to finalize the arrangement of the construction. He said the roads, which are among 10000 kilometres of roads Jubilee government has planned to construct in the next three years, will enable the farmers to carry their produce to the factories and enable the factories to carry their products to the market.

He also said the government has expanded the source of energy by launching a geothermal power plant in Olkaria which can produce 140 megawatts. He said that will enable people who want to invest in industries to access a cheaper power. He said that will enable young people from all spheres of life get jobs.

He concluded his remarks by asking the members of the opposition to work with the government rather than “perpetuating politics which can bring no development” to the country.