Private Sector to be sustained well into the future , Government has a responsibility to provide a conducive operating environment for businesses .
The Role of Citizens
As citizens , we have a role to play in ensuring that we are leaving behind a good legacy for the children of this country .
The rich and the middle class in our society utilise services from private entities and may not feel the pain of parents with low incomes . However , those with access to private services cannot afford to ignore the plight of the bigger portion of Kenyans . We can only say that we are successful as a country , when each and every single citizen is able to lead a decent life .
So , what can you do as an individual ?
As individuals , just like the private sector , there is room to support the Government through giving in cash or in kind .
However , for this part , I would like to focus on an area that requires a lot more involvement by Kenyan citizens , especially those in the middle class . The Government develops policies and legislative frameworks that serve as the basis upon which services are delivered to citizens . These legislative frameworks determine the destiny of our country and thereby by extension , our success or failure .
In Kenya , there is a Constitutional requirement for public participation
We keep saying that our children are the future of this country but it seems we are not aware that the quality of our future talent pool is actually in jeopardy . The opportunity that our demographic dividend presents is therefore also in jeopardy . The saddest thing is that these staggering numbers of children not attaining their potential is largely caused by situations out of their own control .
prior to the enactment of legislative frameworks . However , participation in public participation forums , particularly by those with expertise and experience , is often wanting .
Airing our opinions on social media is not enough . We must get involved . This is the space we can offer our expertise and experience to ensure that we put in place enabling legislative frameworks . Once these laws are passed , we also have a responsibility to be part of the conversation around proper project and programme implementation .
My call to action to Kenyan citizens is to get actively involved in Government related matters .
In conclusion , the responsibility of increasing the likelihood of our children tapping into their full potential lies squarely in our hands . And as Nelson Mandela aptly put , “ History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children .”
Priscah Motogwa is a Human Resource Practitioner and currently works as an Advisor to the Secretary to Cabinet . You can commune with her via mail at : Priscahmotogwa @ gmail . com