NYS youth in Kisumu stage protests in support of Devolution CS Anne Waiguru

Youth working with NYS at Obunga slums hold demonstrations along Kondele-Nyamasaria bypass in Kisumu in support of Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru, June 23, 2015. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• The demonstration came hours after youths destroyed projects by NYS in Nairobi’s Kibera slums.
• The demonstrators asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to ignore the “sideshows” arising from corruption claims against Ms Waiguru.
• Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for investigations into a Sh826 million pay-out at the ministry and asked that Ms Waiguru be suspended.

By MOSES ODHIAMBO
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Youths attached to the National Youth Service slum upgrading project in Kisumu on Tuesday staged a demo in protest against calls by Cord leaders that the project be investigated.

Hundreds of youth carrying twigs, shovels, pangas, axes and other working tools temporarily blocked the Nyamasaria-Kisian bypass at Obunga slums in solidarity with Devolution Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru.

They demanded that the opposition stops meddling into the businesses of the NYS.

The demonstration came hours after youths destroyed projects by NYS in Nairobi’s Kibera slums.

The demonstrators asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to ignore the “sideshows” arising from corruption claims against Ms Waiguru.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for investigations into a Sh826 million pay-out at the ministry and asked that Ms Waiguru be suspended.

This was in retaliation to an earlier protest by a group allied to Ms Waiguru, who staged protests accusing the Opposition of meddling into their affairs.

In a statement to the press, the youths said they would not allow politicians to block their path to economic empowerment.

Mr John Okello, one of the Obunga Cohort leaders, said the project was of great benefit to them as well as their families.

“As youths of Kisumu, this is the only source of income we have. Let the politicians keep off this project,” said Mr Okello.

He asked leaders not happy with the project to give them an alternative source of livelihood before making noise.

“We want Ms Waiguru to be given time to implement this project and empower our youths. Let her be. She has really empowered us a great deal,” said Mr Okello.

DAILY SAVINGS

His sentiments were shared by some of the youths engaged in the project who said they had saved between Sh4,000 to Sh7,500 from their daily earnings.

Ms Rosemary Adhiambo Otieno told the Nation that the NYS project in Kisumu had become her only source of income, having failed to secure a job despite graduating with a diploma from college.

“The Sh330 that I take home every day has changed my life and that of my family. Anybody fighting this NYS project is just saying that we sleep hungry with our children,” said Ms Otieno.

Mr Ishmael Opon said crime had reduced in the slum because most of the youths who were once idle now spend more time at the project sites.

“Either they let the work continue or release us back to the terror of criminals. We don’t want politics in this work,” Mr Opon said.