 Good morning to you. This is why in the morning, hello Monday. My name is Ramaguka hoping that you're well this particular morning. If at all you're just joining us, you're just in time for the next conversation of the day. And today it's all about understanding youth and national values. We started this conversation a bit earlier on a long time ago and now want to continue with it. How can as youth, how can we promote national values? We shall be looking at the 17 national values. We already started on the 17. We did a few of them. We are going to finish up with the rest. We did eight national values. We are going to finish with the rest of the 17. And joining me to understand more about how youth can be able to promote national values on youth and national values. I'm joined by Ambrose Biketi. He is the Assistant Director at the Directorate of National Cohesion and Values which falls under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. Karubu Sanabana Biketi. Thank you. Buko salama. Salama kapsa. How is the morning? Doing well. You're doing well. So if at all you know from wherever you are, ensure that you engage with us. We are live on our website at www.kbc.co.ke4slashy254. So engage with us on our social media handles also at Y254, at Ram Maguko, and at Sankara Kayesu. The hashtag is Y in the morning. This is a conversation that involves you, so ensure that you engage with us and ask your questions to our Wana Assistant Director here, and we shall be sure to answer them even as you continue. So, Ambrose Biketi, we touched on the 17 national, we started on talking on the 17 national values that exist, and I want us to just pick it up from where we left off with the other conversation. And we want to talk a bit on the social justice that exists as enshrine in the constitution. So when we say the word social justice just by definition, because the youths who are here in such term in Ornashanga, what the hell, what are you talking about? Social justice. What is that you're talking about when you say social justice and how can you promote it? Thank you, Ram, for having me this morning. When we talk about social justice, we are just referring to the enjoyment of rights, any activity, any process that facilitates the enjoyment of rights of the Kenyan people, and enhancing their well-being in the society as they interact with each other. That is about social justice. So, any activity that you engage in that is going to ensure our people enjoy their rights, our people enjoy living as they take care of each other in the society. That's where social justice is all about. And how people enjoy, does that also, because I know rights and freedoms at some point are limited, how enjoy it may at some point offend my neighbor, because I may do something enjoying myself but my neighbor is actually getting hurt. What are the limitations that we have here? The limitations, every right has a responsibility. There is nothing that you can enjoy without some limitations, but we will be talking about that when we talk about human rights. But on this one, social justice, we are talking about especially touching on the youth, any activity that you engage in that is supposed to help our communities, the people we live in begin to enjoy some rights, and any activity that tries to meet their needs that addresses their challenges in the society, that activity falls under social justice. Like, for example, when you have a social action project, you have identified a need in the community, and you look for a way of addressing that need. Like, I have seen youth, for example, going out to clean up some drainage that is blocked, just helping the community to start. Like community service? At the end of the day, those people, when it is done well, they now appreciate living in a clean environment, initially they were suffering, that was a need, that was a challenge. But now the youth have come in to do something for them, at the end of the day they begin enjoying their rights, living in that environment, that is what social justice is all about. And I'm seeing also many activities that youth engage in campaigns. Yes. They can decide to go for an activation of some sort, they get some groups and then they start dancing together as youths. Yes. That also full part of social justice also? It can, it can. And just on the same line, we have seen even some projects initiated, the projects that are speaking to the needs of that community. Like, for example, a water point where they are trying to ensure the community accesses the water and at the end of the day it makes the community feel the apart and parcel of the wider society. So what should us as youths do to ensure that within our area, within our vicinity we are promoting social justice? First of all, identify the challenges that the community is actually experiencing, the needs of that community. And ask yourself as a youth, is there anything I can do to help these people address this very challenge? You realize that our people are going through various challenges, but in your small way as a youth in that locality, if you go in and begin, I have seen youth, for example, in the process of addressing a need of the community, it becomes an income generating thing for them. But they began as a way of addressing the need of this community. Get a problem and try to find out what the solution is. The solution, then it opens up for you to start at least earning something at the end of the day. But there are many who may talk of leadership. They say, kiyongozi, we need our MP to do this, our senator to do this, our MCA to do this, does, you know, and we forget because you're saying as youths we have the ability to go to the ground and get solutions to these problems. We don't need to depend on our leaders to do so. No. That is the fittest way of looking at things. You remember when you were talking about patriotism, the first one. Yes. We said when you love your country, you will give your best, you will come in with a solution to a particular problem. You may not wait for other people to come in. But that small thing that you can do just to address the needs of that community is where social justice comes in. So it flows from patriotism. Is there anything that you can do to enhance the well-being of these people that you're working with? That is social justice. And that's why since we are encouraging everybody, if there's a problem in your society, why you stay, try, solve it. Don't wait for our leaders to meet. See what you can do. See what you can do. There is something that you can do at that level. Then the rest of the things can be handled by other people. Like just an environment which is having a lot of leader around. You can just wake up, mobilize youth and just pick the leader and burn. That is something that is within your means. You can do that. You don't need to wait for a leader and the people are suffering because of the leader environment. There are some challenges that we are facing when it comes to promoting these particular aspects. Yes. Value of social justice. Maybe you can mention some of them that you are experiencing as a director that you've seen that is a hindrance to social justice. One of the challenges is poverty. You go to an environment where there is a need and people want to do something but you look at their level of life. There is nothing that is there. There is nothing that they can do. They are limited by the level of poverty. So it requires another person to come in and at least do something. That is a challenge. Sponsors funds. What you are saying, the youth who come here, they look at these people like they have already given up. We want to see them also enjoy their life. You organize some fun for these people. That's why you are talking about some dancing and some kind of entertainment. You breathe life now to those people. That's what we are talking about. Let's talk about equity. You are saying that you go somewhere and then you bring life. You try to uplift some of these people. There has to be some sense of equity as you are doing that. There has to be some sense of involvement that I feel that there is equity here. So if there is equity, I will feel at peace to participate in promoting whatever is going on. But now, how can we ensure that there is equity? Equity is in terms of the needs of those people. When, for example, these people, their needs are many, it means again to mobilize several groups. Like a challenge in a place or a need in an area, you will realize that one group may not handle that. So it will involve you mobilizing various groups because the challenge is big. You cannot handle it alone. You may not have the capacity. So if you are a youth group in that environment, you may go out to get some more groups to join in because of the magnitude, the level of the challenge you want to deal with. That's where equity comes in. Because if you handle it in a small way, you may not be able to finish the work at the end of the day. That is why every need you assess, you analyze every need, you look at the capacity that you have. You have the capacity or you need to bring on board other members, other youth. If we have women groups in the neighborhood, they are all coming together for the sake of addressing the challenge. That is where equity comes in. Yeah, everybody is involved. Everybody is involved. And we have some scenarios that are probiting such kind of value. Yes. What are they, just to mention a few? When you want to go to a place and you have a home for the elderly, you are a youth group. There is something you want to do in that home. You may not go there as a youth group because you may not speak to the needs of those people. You may need the support of other groups, the women in the society. Yes, now you are the one leading the way, but you are being supported by these other groups to ensure you offer service that will actually address the needs of those people. So that mobilization comes in depending on the category or on the need or on the group they are going to deal with. So some of you don't say that mimi na zasima ma kipu? No. No, no. That is where we only be talking about inclusiveness. You discover that we have to find a way of bringing every other person on board. There is something that you can do, which I cannot do. And if we appreciate that your strength, what you have, and my strength, when we put together the two, we will be able to achieve so much. And that's where inclusivity comes in. So it's possible for youths to promote equity? Very possible. And there is always this perspective of segregation that exists in some individuals. They feel like, you know what, I don't think I can get so and so to come in. I don't think I can get so and so to come in. You know, they've already given up. Yes. So they won't promote equity. What would you say in regards to that particular scenario here? First of all, you have to work on your service team. Realize that as a Kenyan, as a youth, you have the rights that you need to enjoy. And with that kind of awareness and you work on your service team and you improve it, you can be able to go to any person because of what you want to do. You may look small, but there is something, some contribution you want to make to the wider society. So people will listen to you, note by where you come from, but what you want to achieve for the society and they will come in. Because there are people who are just waiting for somebody to tell them, please come on board and they are willing to come on board. So you have to be willing to overcome that, that kind of stigma that is in your mind, feeling that you cannot do anything, you cannot mobilize people to do something good for the society. The moment you step out, the first step that you make, it will even surprise you. Then how can youth promote inclusiveness? Because we want to be included. You hear how youths are coming up nowadays. If you look at the coming elections, many are talking about inclusivity, inclusiveness, how they can be able to participate in leadership and taking the country to the next level. How do you promote inclusiveness here? First of all, you have to understand the opportunities you have been given in the existing law and make use of those opportunities. That's the first thing. Because if we are going to see the voice of the youth, because we have so many opportunities which have been set aside for the youth in parliament, in every committee now it's a constitutional matter. So when you understand those positions which have been reserved for you, make use of those opportunities, that is number one. And go out, find out any group coming up, where is our slot? Any committee coming up, any commission coming up, where is our slot? Then you go and get that slot for yourself. Then number two again, any youth in a position anywhere, you are in a particular commission, a particular committee, a particular institution, you make sure the issues of the youth are well outlined in what you are doing, if you are developing a policy, you know you are representing the youth. At the end of the day, if every youth in those small positions begin doing their work to represent the other youth, we will not have a challenge moving forward. Because right now we have enough voices of youth in different organizations. Can you imagine if each one of them just begins to ensure that the issues of the youth are mainstream to that organization? At the end of the day, we will not have a challenge. But youths keep on segregating themselves, they feel like ah, see where they are. Even some who have been given positions when they go there, instead of standing up and letting other people to hear them as representatives of the youth, they shy away. At the end of the day, the voices that we are hearing from there are not coming from the youth who are seated in those committees. We are not taking advantage of opportunities that have been laid out for us. Yes, exactly. Because by now, the constitution 2010 gave us enough of those opportunities. Some have done so well, but in other places where you go, you find a youth is there as a leader, but she is not making use of those opportunities. So the youth at the end of the day, they must also learn to equip themselves, then arise, then make use of those opportunities and ensure that the issues of the youth come forth at the end of the day. We've seen many youths say that they don't feel like they are getting involved in particular areas, especially when it comes to leadership. What would you say in regards to that? That is a feeling, and it may be true. But you see, you can't sit there and say we are not feeling engaged in this. You go there and let me give you an example. We organize for a forum. We are trying to validate a budget in a county forum. We invite the youth to come. The first question they will ask you is how much am I going to be given at the end of the day? Wrong question. Because this is about policy which is going to affect most of the youth. We are trying to promote inclusivity here, but now you are coming up with something else. Selfish interests at the end of the day. Unless we defeat that kind of attitude, we may not make use of those opportunities. So if you are asked that question by the youth, and this is a forum, a national policy you are discussing that is going to inform so many things for the youth. And they say if we are not getting anything then we will not attend. What will you do in such a scenario? That's where patriotism comes in. Wow. So ita bia kusemunu taka kitu ya kufunguwa machu. Ya kusyam kawano. You know the after millologies for that. We deal with them we know. They tell us all sorts of things. And then the day they will complain that we are not getting anything. We are not and yet those opportunities are there because right now there is no way we can organize a forum and fail to have the youth represented. That's an illegal forum. Like we were discussing the other day about the national kinds of elders. These are elders but we are telling now it is a requirement we must have the youth on board because how will you handle the youth issues if they are not represented here. So the elders cannot work. They must also get a youth who is an elder, a leader, then support these people. And anytime they are discussing youth issues they have to consult these guys. And this is why I want you to participate with us. How can we promote inclusiveness in this country? The hashtag is all in the morning at Ramaguko, at Witefava channel. You can find us why in the morning is the hashtag. How can we promote inclusiveness as youths? What do we do? What is the solution? Do you feel like there is inclusiveness in the country? It is a national value that you are trying to promote here. Or again, how effectively have you represented the youth in every forum they have attended? If for example one of them has been in this forum, were they in a position to advocate for the issues of the youth in whatever activity they were undertaking? There are many youths who campaign to, they want to be leaders and when they go there they get it, they fail to do one to three things that were expected of them. We need to change this narrative. A lot. Earlier on we mentioned equity. But there is another terminology that I want to bring on board. Yes. Equality. Equality. How can we promote equality? As you talk about equality, I'm sure there is another perspective that will also come in when it comes to human rights. But let's start by dispensing first of all the equality part. Equality is just treating every person with an equal measure. That is equality. Let me use the example of the opportunities that we have. Every youth has an equal chance to access affirmative action funds. An equal chance. Whether you come from the reach of the poor, each one of them has an equal chance. But at the end of the day you will get that some youth are accessing those funds using them. Then others are saying, as I don't think we will get the fund. Equality demands that each one of us has an equal chance. And it requires that as we go out you realize where there is equality. Especially in accessing those opportunities which are there. And you go for those opportunities. Because if there is equality in that and some people are going and benefiting from those opportunities. And others are failing to go. Where is the problem? In fact that is the question I always ask the youth. Why are we not all of us accessing the funds that have been missed out for the youth? We only have some selected youth who are bold enough to step out of their comfort zones and go for those funds. And yet there is an equal chance for all of us to benefit. We have so many training opportunities which are being offered. But you realize that not every youth is going for them. What is the challenge that is coming up that is challenging equality? Why do we have such kind of scenario? It is attitude. From the youth. Somebody thinking that me I don't think I can get it. And you condemn yourself. And you sit there and you fail to access the opportunity which has been missed out for you. So until we overcome that attitude. And also realizing that we are in a new dispensation. Where every person has an equal chance to get and enjoy the opportunities and the benefits and privileges that are there in the society today. So you can be an enemy of yourself. We don't make use of those opportunities because each one of them. And when you listen to the youth who have stepped out and done something. They will tell you it required a lot of courage. And some of our people are not willing to take that extra step and be able to benefit from the opportunities that are there. Because each one has an equal chance in terms of accessing those affirmative action funds. The youth funds and other opportunities. The trainings for example like the presidential digital talent that is there. Any person who applies you will get a chance. But you discover not many people making use of that opportunity. So that's where equality comes in. Are you a youth within this bracket? Please apply. But we need to challenge this mindset that such things don't belong to us. We need to challenge this mindset. Because that's the terminology here. You need to know what's here. Then at the end of the day you say we are not being included. We are not being given opportunities. And you see these opportunities are there. When we will be talking about sustainable development you will see that at one time some of these opportunities will cease. When you talk of equality. How do you promote also equality between both genders? Male and female. Because many youths complain that opportunities are diverse for different genders. And at some point the ladies are disadvantaged. What do you say in regards to that? Now that brings us to the value of protection of the marginalized. Which is there down there. We go out deliberately to ensure that people who have been disadvantaged in the past are taken care of. You realize that in our African society our ladies have always gone through some very serious challenges. And so when we walk up as a country we decided anytime we are doing something. And when we have ladies in the room or women in the room we have to give them some special preference. Because these guys have been, men have been at the table for many years. The ladies have not been at the table for some years. So we have to come up with the liberate ways to ensure that we also bring them up. So that at some point we can be able to achieve what we call equality. Like some regions in this country you realize that even in the KCPE when an exam is done. A child from Nairobi is not treated at the same level with a child from the northeastern. A child in Nairobi who scored like 320 marks. Comparing that to the same child in northeastern. The northeastern child will be told please go to the national school. This other one will be told go to an extra county school. Because this child has gone through some very serious challenges to achieve that. Now that's where we have what we call protection of the marginalized. How do we take care of people who have been disadvantaged in the past. And they have suffered challenges. That's why sometimes these days when you go for an interview you are a man and you are seated with ladies and they have more codification than you are. You may rethink your participation in that interview. Because at the end of the day this value of protection of the marginalized will play. Do persons with disabilities fall under this particular aspect? And how can we protect persons living with disabilities? And especially for us youth. One of the ways in when we are forming the youth groups as much as we are looking for people of particular nature we have also to ask ourselves are we bringing on board persons with disability. That's the first thought. Because these are people who are there in the society. We have to ensure they are part and parcel of what is going on. That is number one. Number two again when youth and I have seen them doing it so well. Sometimes they visit these children in some homes who are like sweet children. They go and make donations to them. They go there and play with them the whole day. Just trying to show them that they are also Kenyans and they are being appreciated in the society. So those donations and those services that we go out of our way to render to those groups that are in different homes the value we are promoting there is protection of the marginalized. And for example when you go out to visit the elderly or homes for the elderly and you are doing the cleanups in that home you are trying to show these people that they are also important to our society and that is the work that most of the youth are doing. During weekends you find them in those homes doing the cleanups and supporting these people. You need to volunteer to come out there. Volunteer, it is about your contribution to making our society better without thinking that what am I going to get at the end of the day. No, that one will not take us anywhere because this country belongs to us. Even tomorrow we will need this. We can't wait for people to come in and start doing these things but you are doing something. You are making your contribution. You are making our society a better place to be and we can do it. And they are doing it very well. And is there a way that we can also ensure that we don't have discrimination across board because it is something that many people fear. Will I be discriminated? Will I be separated? Is there a way that we can reduce on the issue of discrimination? That is in fact if you are to ask me if there are people who have achieved discrimination for us in this country, the youth. Talk to the elder guys. I will just give you an example. One time I was talking to some people. Let me not mention them. We always organize what we call exchange forums. We take youth from one county. They go and visit youth in the other county. They stay in their homes. And the youth are very outgoing. After staying together for two, three weeks you will hear one of them say officer please come and attend my wedding. The person, when you took me there identified a person. And you see they are willing to go out. But now the problem comes in when they take that information to their parents. Parents will tell you men for many years we have never gotten somebody from the other side. You are going against our issue. But youth very outgoing. We are changing the narrative. The narrative is changing and the people who will change this and they are doing it quite well at the youth. One time we were in another county. A child had done class 8. Got 412 marks. He had been called to Maseno school from a particular county in Central Kenya. But the mother could not allow that. I can't allow my child to cross over. When you talk to the boy he is saying this is the school I have been dreaming of. I want to go there. But now what is the parent saying? But at the end of the day it is the child who carried the day because the child went to Maseno school. So you are seeing these are people who are willing. They will change the notion of thinking that we cannot live with these people. We cannot work with these people. It is changing. As the senior citizens in the past we have done it in the wrong way. But because of the youth now things are changing. To convince the senior citizens our parents can the youth also be able to have a voice and promote non-discrimination? Among the parents it is possible. But hard. But it may take time. Teaching an old dog some new tricks. It is not difficult. It is up to us within our circle. It is changing it. So that we influence the generations to come. You know when you bring those people from the other environment and they start looking at them they discover kumili also human beings like us. Those stereotypes that we used to have about them, they are not there. They will begin to join us as we move forward as the youth. Social media has been a very important factor when it comes to promoting non-discrimination. How can you take advantage of it? It is about the narrative the messages we send out about other people. Social media can be good it can also be bad because of the narrative that we are sending out. If I can say something and I am coming from this community and what I say is associated with the community. Now that is where we go wrong. But if we can just take out balanced information and narrative that has nothing to do with some ethnic connotation or something we will make it we will succeed at the end of the day. But sometimes social media every day it has its own issues. Today they are doing well tomorrow you will find the most of bringing in some other issues which are not very good in terms of promoting the values that we are talking about. I love the story you have given here. It is possible for somebody to get associated with another community and it has been seen widely especially on social media where somebody gets in touch with another person and they talk quite well. Although there are few stories that have come across not that there are few stories where people have met on social media and it was successful from different works of life but non-discrimination was there. That we can say those are success stories especially on social media where you are meeting the person and you feel this is the right person and you engage and you move to the next level good, that's good. I want us to talk of governance and when it comes to good governance this has been an issue for a long time good governance how can we promote it? First of all good governance is just having systems and structures through which the exercise of power can be controlled or held to account every human being given a position if you don't have some checks and balances you'll have issues even at the personal level in fact internally as a person one of the good governance things that you need to have is self control because there are times you want to do something but you discover you're almost going overboard so there's a limit you can go that is self control and especially let me come to the youth because we are speaking to the youth when you have how do you ensure that you promote is having mentors people who can check you and size you and correct you and tell you today you did well but I didn't like what you talked about yesterday it was not right so they keep shaping us and controlling us and looking at what we are doing that's a good governance thing they can keep you accountable they are the ones who make us to toe the lies when we go off is there a way that as youths we can be able to ensure that it is spreading across board because there are some who knowledge is not common for many there are some who know one particular as attribute of virtue there are those who do not know the same attribute of virtue in regards to good governance how can we spread that message there it is one of the ways and one of the things the programs I see helping youth so much in achieving good governance it is the issue of youth exchange programs where you go out and you are sharing what you do and people listen to your story they critique your story then improve on their story then you also listen to the other people share their story you critique and at the end of the day you are refining one another among the youth themselves and bringing sensation awareness just engaging at that level because at the end of the day they know it all attitude you are doing something and you believe you know it all my friend it will lead you to some other place you may not like interesting thing is until you hear someone else's story and then you have to take a back step you learn you are learning a new thing people who have never gone out they will always praise their mothers my mom is the best cook the day you will step out you will discover kumbe we have some other good cooks in the neighborhood and you bring those stories and give them to your mom so that you improve at the end of the day what comes out is better especially these exchange programs very important even if you are doing something find out if there is another person doing the same thing can you learn from that person because there may be some things you need to discard to improve on what you are doing and it comes out through those exchange forums and even having discussions with some other people you go to some places where youth are having open discussions over something and sharing information sensitizing one another and they are learning from each other how do we overcome this issue going forward that's good governance and what are some of the challenges or issues that hinder good governance especially among the youth one of them is a no-it-all attitude where you are not willing to listen we have seen youth even at home who cannot listen to their parents when they have decided on something until they land in a problem that is the time they will come back and say kumbe what you are doing was wrong that is number one number two is closing up not being willing to share what you are doing sometimes you feel this is mine I need to keep it to myself then you will if you only shared with your neighbor and you work together to improve on that so that fear of sharing what I know I want to create something but I am not willing to share it out you are denying the society an opportunity to improve to check and improve on the program you know the many who always feared what you are saying is true they fear sharing because they feel like if I share my idea some of me steal it if I talk about what I want to do about my plans to execute A, X, Y or Z some of me steal my plans and end up not even having the ability to do it you are right there are those fears but we have institutions in our country which are there to ensure that our ideas are protected that nobody steals that idea but there is a lot of power in sharing you may not share with everybody there are some trusted friends who are also in the same field and they will add value to what you are doing that's what we are talking about and that's why you go to every place youth who are working in this field have an association of some kind where you meet together and each one of you is sharing what they are planning so youth let's join this association forming group association yes they are important in improving what we are working on and that is an aspect of good governance where now you have a place where people can check on and improve on it and at the end of the day what comes out is a good thing for our country you know as you are talking about that because you said that there are institutions that are there that exist that can help protect the youth and youth always fear sharing because they are questioning one thing integrity societal integrity integrity and integrity can even be personal because you are wondering if I go for this will there be integrity through this exchange that you are going to have how can this promote integrity Kwanza let's say what integrity is all about integrity is about doing good consistently irrespective of the circumstances and not very many people pass that test because that means what you say agrees with what you do and also what you believe in many people when you follow them around what they say is totally different from what they do and what they believe in they can even say things to please your ears but that's not what they believe in that's why you will get some people during the day find them at night the things they are doing go against the things they told you during the day especially during the weekend let's not go there but one of the ways in which youth can live integrity look at we are in the electioneering period for example and a youth of integrity will not allow he or himself to be influenced by a politician because you have been given something so you lose your head and you start doing things that you have never dreamed of that means you are a person of integrity you are consistently doing what is right because the society is full of influences for example good or bad but if after going through all those things you consistently do what is right integrity is okay number two there is a lot of peer pressure right now when you want to do something good as a youth you may have very few people celebrating you it is only your conscience which will clap for you at the end of the day but the rest of the people because you never did as bad as they did they will condemn you but a person of integrity will not allow peer pressure that is taking you to a wrong direction to influence your life you will stand your ground if you know you are supposed to be doing something you will stand by it that is what we are talking about so those influences that we have in the society those challenges that youth are going through should not make them lose the values that they gain from their parents because like you a parent has sent you have seen especially in the city where a child has been sent to a college but at the end of the day what they do in those colleges is totally different from what they were sent by their parents to do that is integrity and when it comes to sharing information how can we also promote integrity as we share information because earlier on you said youths fear sharing this one you cannot you have first of all to scan your environment there are people who can be in your environment but not all of them can come into the internal space and be your friends so there are people you have to look at and see can these people when I share my idea with them can they keep it can they safeguard it can they ensure that it is protected that's what we are talking about so it is about identifying people that you can trust those that you have worked with for some time then you have agreed that this is what we will be doing in our association and we will not be able to let what we have shared here go to the other people and through that you recognize those that belong in different circles in a circle yes you know what to share at what level now as an individual there are those things that promote integrity what are some of the things that we can do as individuals now to promote integrity one of them is self-discipline not everything that comes before you you must see everything that comes before you self-discipline is very important Ben number two is the company that you keep if you are keeping people who are in discipline who have no integrity then at the end of the day they will influence you there is somebody who said that if you see nine bad people you are the tenth one if you work amongst nine wise people you are the tenth one yes that is why your company is very important you cannot say you have integrity but you have chosen to work among people who are not integrity at the end of the day you are just one of them so then number three is having very strong values that you believe in as a person and making up your mind to leave those values irrespective of what happens now what you are saying has reminded me of yet one particular aspect of transparency transparency the way you work shows how transparent you are the way things you do it has an effect how can youths be transparent let's begin by understanding what transparency is all about transparency is just about sharing information acting without hidden agendas everything is laid bare if we are engaging with you everything is here at the table which can come out openly sharing information acting in an open manner without having strings attached no that is what transparency is all about now it is about you as an individual let's begin at the individual level letting other people understand who you are there are people you can work with for years and you have never understood what kind of animals they are so opening up yourself to letting other people know what you stand for as an individual and know the things that you can do they have enough information about you they know that if they tell you this you will not like it you are transparent man that's also one thing that affects youths especially in the job market lack of transparency can even make you lose a job and you look at their CVs they have given status there about them that is now where integrity also comes in in transparency no things are not part of the people you are seeing before you they say they do this when you give them a chance what comes out at the end of the day is totally different so the information you shared is not a true reflection of the person that you are now that is one way of how we can promote integrity at the individual level then now whether we come to the society how can we promote integrity transparency number one it is by because youth you have to know what your government is doing just accessing the websites of government institutions and getting information on what they are doing and disseminating that information the value you are promoting is transparency then number two youth are very good on social media platforms if we can use those social media platforms to disseminate correct and relevant information so that we empower our people with the information on what is going on in the society today and true information very important true and relevant because some information may not be relevant to me at this level you realize these people need this information you have access to the source of that information get that information and give them correct the value you are promoting is what we call transparency then also the youth are very good and I want to commend them on this they are using creative arts for example they want to pass some information you will see them coming up with poems you will see them coming up with skits and other any kind of drama and acting the purpose of those poems drama and skits just to pass information that is still transparency you want our people to get because we get this information at different levels others can come with a victorial representation of some information how can youths be held accountable promoting accountability very important and let me explain that by using a bibiliko example if you allow me in the bible Jesus talks about three people that were given talents the first one was given one talent another one was given two the last one was given five then the day to account for those talents came the one that was given one said I didn't use it, I went and buried it it has not given as anything the one that was given two went and worked on it and it generated two more the one that was given five went and made use of the five and it generated five more what I am saying is that every youth has a talent but now explaining how you have used that talent that you have to improve on your life then help the people you live with overcome the challenges that is where there is an issue every youth has talents and not just talent every youth has an opportunity like for example if you have a day come and lay off from morning to evening at the end of the day when you ask how did you spend can you account on how you spend your day explain to us that is still accountability being answerable explaining how you spend your time kuna watu people have gotten money but at the end of the day they can't explain how they spend the money and that's where accountability comes in youths are afraid or don't want to be held accountable that is where the issue is give us whatever you want to give us but don't ask us how we got it how we used it if you have youth for example that is the question they don't want but in terms of getting those what they want I want us to finish this conversation with sustainable development and what are you talking about here when you say sustainable development sustainable development is just a pattern of resource use that means the present and the future needs of the people we are going to have and simply put as a youth a youth is packaging himself or herself to be relevant today and even in the days to come the opportunities that you have been given how are you using them just to make sure that your life tomorrow is also good like if you have a tree if you want that tree to continue bearing more fruit you have to water the tree so that tomorrow you continue enjoying how can we promote sustainable development as youths in the country make use of the available opportunities if it is accessing funds and investing those funds in projects that have a long time effect please go ahead and do that number two engage in innovation and creativity because innovation is the future and improve on that innovation so that as a society we continue enjoying that number three make use of the training and educational opportunities that are there because that is the way you package yourself for tomorrow any training that comes improve be a person who is willing to learn and learn and learn you are preparing yourself for tomorrow that's sustainable development thank you so much I believe that those who are watching today we've had an impactful morning that is Wonabiketi Ambrose who is assistant director at the directorate of national equation and values I thank you for coming thank you for hosting me too we should have this conversation more and next time we should talk about now other issues that pertain to you know national values like governance how the government is getting involved in it but I want to thank you for firing time and I want to thank you from wherever you are watching us from being for me part of this conversation we say we are grateful we are taking a short break could be back in a bit but keep it why in the morning this is Ram Aguko it is a pleasure keep engaging with us the hashtag is why in the morning this is why 254