 This is the way to do it. This is the way to do it. This is the way to do it. The myth that the youth are leaders of tomorrow is nothing but a myth. However, in 2022 elections, we just showed that the youth are ripe, we are ready, and we are taking it home. Honourable Vill of the Ambo, an independent candidate of Kobura Ward, has more to tell us. Moshi Miwa, I would love to congratulate you for the seat. How does it feel? Tombe, how do you feel taking the seat? First, I want to thank you guys for calling me. Secondly, it feels good. It feels good to be the leader of Kobura Ward, and being that it comes to the responsibility. I feel so obligated to serve, so I have to work hard for my people. That is how I feel. That is how you feel. So, are you always a leader even in your childhood? I've always loved leadership positions, because I feel that you are the change you want to see. You don't have to wait for somebody else, because you can wait for somebody to lead you, but then the person you wait for to lead you will lead you to a different direction. So, I feel if I can do something, let me go for it. So, back then, in primary, when I was in Hoke Primary School, that is in Naivasha, I was a prefect at some level. From primary, I went to high school, Maranda High School. Maranda High School, I was a prefect, from 2 till from 4. I was a prefect. Then I went to Moore University. In Moore University, I realized that we had a lot of challenges, and being the person that I am, I don't want to see challenges, and if I see challenges, I want to be the person to correct them. So, I went there, and having seen all the challenges students were facing, I went for the leadership role. So, there I was elected as the student leader, I was the secretary general of Moore University Student Organization. That's nice. After that, I came home. I started farming, and the farming in Kobura, what I realized that it is the economic activity that most people are doing there. And if I wanted to empower these people, that is the first point I have to touch. So, empowering these people at times, you can't empower when you don't have anything to support them with. So, I went for this position, because I realized that is the point where I can bring change. That is when I decided to come for the Kobura Worksheet, because I wanted to address the challenges that are there. Yes. And did you feel like it was a risk you were taking joining the Kenyan politics? Yeah, it is a risk, because in politics, you can win, you can lose. But with me, I've never looked at, I always see things on the positive side. Yeah, that is when I decided to go for it, because I believed if somebody else can do it, I also can do it. Yeah, that is what pushed me forward. I marvel at the fact that you won using an independent ticket against one supported by a big party. So, that you have to have what it takes. Tell us more about it. I was in ODIM. I was one of the candidates during the nominations. But the results that came were not something that okay, it was not something that I expected. But something strange happened, because you realize these people, they had so much hope in me. They told me that you are not leaving this thing here. And they told me if you decide to leave this thing here, we are going to elect another person. So, it meant these people had the trust and all their hopes were here. So, because people vote, you don't have parties that vote, you have people who vote. So, because they told me, we will be with you to the last point. And after the elections, I can say that it was true. They were with me. They worked with me all through. On that note, this is a journey of faith. This is a good decision. Go for it. From that point, I realized being that people showed that they were in this, they guided me a lot. Because immediately after nominations, okay, I went home. Home was full. Home was full. One thing that came out from that is that these people, they wanted to own everything. They were like sending a message. They told me, if it is resources that it has, we are willing to sponsor your campaigns. You know, that is a strong statement from people who are at the same level like you. People who don't have resources, but the little that they have, they want to invest in their campaigns. It happened that immediately, them talking there, they agreed. In fact, they fouled some vehicle and hired some public address system and told me, Zunguka Ward Museum are telling people that you are still in the race. So, you know, them doing that, it showed that they are going to be with me. So that is something that, okay, they were my mentors. As much as I have other mentors from other places, some politicians and yeah, but largely everything came from the people. This is, it was a people's thing. I noticed you were going door-to-door. Before party or garrie, before they fueled for you that you went door-to-door, seeking for that seat. How did that experience, how was that experience? Being that Kubura Ward is big, it was challenging because for one the resources you have, you must have resources, you must have a strong team. So, I tried my best to have that strong team and initially I was campaigning using my motorbike. I was campaigning using my motorbike. You organize for meetings and if people are set, you go. But the challenge was the resources now. Because the Kenyan system, okay, we have believed that we should be electing people with money. But for my case, I didn't have that money. Because all the money I had maybe after college everything I invested in agriculture. So you realize before you get your returns, you are in campaigns. So I was campaigning largely on faith. I had to sell my vision strongly. So walking door-to-door, something that I had to ensure was that these people getting the message because that was key in a campaign without resources. You have to inspire people now. Let them believe that you are the solution. So being that I was part of them and I've lived there for some time and I know the challenges being that I'm a farmer in Kobura, I knew all the challenges people are facing. So selling my agenda was not that difficult because I was with the people always and I understood every challenges they had. So walking door-to-door, the only challenge we had was resources because at times you organize for a meeting of 50 people and you end up meeting 600 to 1000 people. So you have to rethink. But I always tried my best to talk to them and tell them that I don't have much, but the little help just accept it. So it was a campaign of faith. And what would you say motivated your supporters, where and when they were mine and where and when they would stop again? Okay in politics, okay let me say Kobura word. You know people come during campaigns, people come from Nairobi, people come from other places to come and campaign there. But being that these people they were seeing me always. With some blue overall, I'm going to sell my tomatoes in town. So they identified with me like I was one of them. All the Piki-Piki guys they identified with me. Because some of the farmers when I look at now, I ended up looking for markets for them. Because personally, okay I did something in my college, I did business stuff. So looking for a market is not an issue for me. So having that market known as some other farmer and a sumukana after market with good prices, we look at other farmers, their products, so that at least I look at you. So this inspired most of them. And they felt that like I was one of them. So that is why most of them would easily interact with me and identify with me. And did you ever have this challenge where what he's not a politician, he doesn't have that language. How did you navigate such? What came out is that most of them were seeing me as a young man. In fact, I ended up using what they were saying to my advantage. So it was a brand saying that some people are thinking that it will thwart my ambitions. But it ended up building me. Because that kid is a young man who identified with youths. That kid is a young man who identified with his mother. Because they want to do it, or they want to show how these people are employed. So my mother and my youths supported me fully. Because I know that that guy is experiencing. Because most people say they are not employmenters in an issue. Going back, at least every home, somebody, some youth so they felt the pain. And we can clear these campaigns fully. So that is the challenge we are going to face. In fact, some competitors Yeah, so being that that was there, I had to have a strong agenda that can overcome all that. So I'm sure we branded our team well so that anything you could do, what you want to do are different things. And in this farming, what kind of farming were you involved in? Let me tell you what I learned in farming. After college, you're educated, love who, you know, the society sees you differently. They want direction from you. So I had to be a good example. Fun enough, I can gain in farming, I'm a farmer, it's something I love. So I went to open field farming. But then I had a lot of challenges there. So every cent I saved. From that point, I ended up at least a bit higher. So that if that can give me more money compared to open field farming. And at least it's like I gave people direction. They saw something in me. I want to change my area. And most people, they come visiting and I share this how you do it. Come to open field, I was doing some tomatoes. Three months you're harvesting, but it's called greenhouse. Your tomato, I harvest for around six months. So that is there's some difference there. So they saw something there. So agriculture, nipenda, it's something that I'll always advise people to do. So when I found a tomato farming, at some point I did watermelon farming. So in my greenhouse, I have onions. Speaking of resources, you had little or no resources. But in the Kenyan political campaigns, you know, handouts in those in a power corwinging. And so how did you navigate that being a you? I think as youths, the society already, it has moved to some direction. If you have that strong agenda, you realize that you'll get following. People will not like vote you because of the amount of money you give them. Because for my case, my opponents, nearly everybody had money. But I also use that, okay, it's just strategy because I use that to my advantage. Because most people, we are at the same level. People don't have that money. A few individuals have money, some extra cash to use in politics. So I use that to my advantage. So whenever I go to campaign, I tell people like, I don't have money. What I have is a strong agenda that will move your, move a ward to another step. So they vote that. So if somebody else came with cash, there was something in Lua. It was called Yucco Jamuna. I told them, you guys go Yucco Jamuna, but come back and vote here. So that is what happened. You go and Yucco Jamuna there and you come back to vote the right direction. So it's just having a strong agenda. And people will not see you as a youth or somebody old or something else. They'll just stick to that agenda. If somebody asks them, they'll just say, he wants to do this, this and that. That is nice strategic management. And so you being a youth, what do you think has changed the perspectives of the youth in terms of politics? Because Gitanbo youths want to say, but let me say vote. I'm saying politics because of such and such reasons. But here you are in politics and you are advocating for youths to take up such seats. What do you think the perspective is? I think youths have started to realize that they can also lead. Because you are always told that we are the leaders of tomorrow. Tomorrow is here. You can't wait for tomorrow. You get all you're still waiting for tomorrow. This is the right age to start taking these positions. Because if you look at the, okay, most politicians, even the veteran politicians now, they started when they were youths. So this is the right time for any youth. Don't wait for somebody or wait for at some point, you'll get money to use in politics. Just have a strong agenda and go. So I'm trying to imagine here you are a young person having your agenda. And here is a big name that has the money, has the political language, but you still took that seat. How did that make you feel as a youth? Okay, I was not surprised. I was not surprised because the effort that we put in the campaigns, we were like around 60% sure that we are going to win. Because we had meetings always. From morning eight, I was meeting people till date. Like I was not resting. Like if somebody went to look for me at home, I was not there. I was in the field looking for votes. I was looking for farmers. I was looking for women groups. I was looking for youth groups. So I think in the last minute, I had like mapped my word and I knew this location, I'm going to get around 70%. This location, I'm going to get around 80%. So in our strategies, that is how we planned it. And it came out exactly that. So having that strong strategy, we were sure that we are going to win. Because we addressed some challenges people are having. And we know after addressing some challenges, you realize that people will vote you. Because they want somebody who can solve their problems. And that is how we campaigned. The problems that we were about, we could solve, we solved them. Some of them that maybe required a lot of resources and required somebody to be in a position. We told people, this, we are going to do it after office. So we were sure we are going to win. And now that you're the MC, let's get to the crack of it. What plans do you have for Kobura? Looking at Kisumu County, Kobura Ward is strategically placed. Because after politics, you realize that at least now people are investing in Kisumu. So Kisumu is expanding. And where Kobura Ward is, if you look at it, you realize that most factories have started to be operational in that area. I want to empower my people so that we don't just sell land because people are coming to buy land. I don't want them to be squatters. So I have to empower them economically. And the main economic activity there is that everybody, nearly everybody is a farmer there. So that farming, I want to ensure that rice farming that is there, we take it to another level. Like Muya rice, we want Kobura rice to have some name. So that at least if you go to the supermarket, you get Kobura rice on the shelves. So that we compete with Muya rice. Competing with Muya rice will give these people, will empower them. Because we realize that their rice will be sold at higher prices. And that will reflect in everything that they are doing even at home. Because empowering them will at least empower everybody in the village. So I want to empower them using agriculture. And the factories that are coming will negotiate with them so that at least people from my ward get opportunities. Because we have a big number of youths. We have a big number of women that don't have employment. So that is what I want to create through agriculture and the factories that are there. And promote education also. So these are some of the things that I know if I do for my people, my word will be a good word. You there's one agenda you had about planning to upgrade an early childhood development education with a fully funded feeding program for the children. Can you speak more about that? If you want a society to grow, you have to invest in education. And because if somebody realize the kind of thinking that these personas are thinking that can grow people. So we have to empower people. And empowering people, I have to invest in ECD because that is where I should focus on. So that these people get good education, they get resources, they get good classrooms that will encourage learning. After that, I have to empower the learners. At least Yeah, that is what I want to do so that the parents of their parents don't get that to struggle. So I believe doing that, people will love education. And that is what I want so that we get a maximum from my word going to school. We have seen these agendas that politicians give out to the community before being elected but after they've been elected, they be themselves on a journey, you know, and our tactic will associate with the community. What plans do you have to put for the community to put you in check so that you can attain these agendas? We have a team from all corners of Kubura. That team, their work is to tell me what is happening. All the challenges that are there so that I don't lose touch with my voters. Another thing, the challenges are also interact with the voters because I'm not the kind of person that after being voted in, you go away. So I'll interact with people. I'll visit people from all corners so that I know the challenges, I address the challenges. And in my agenda, if there's something that I know will delay, I'll just go to the people and tell them we planned this together. And at this point, we might have some delays. Even the voters, the electorates, there are people who listen. If you tell them this can't happen now, but we can do this, they'll listen. But I'll try my best to ensure that we do everything that we promised. We do at least 80% if we can do 100 so that they see something different from other leaderships. And being that I'm a young man and I still have dreams, I'll be with the people to the last minute because they are the same people that will elect me in other positions. So I have to be with them. You have to experience the challenges together and address them together. Yes. And now as a whole, you as a young person, are there any plans for the young people in your community and your generation as well? For the young people, me included, the plans I have for them, I'll empower them, just empowering them. Because you realize that they are in groups. You realize that they have some common agenda that they are pushing at their own levels. I'll get in that so that if there's a way I can help them, go up and help them. Because they are resources we can get for them. And that is what I want to do so that I empower them. After five years, I can say that I met this group and they were doing this. And at least now they are in level three. That is what will make me happy. And all the groups, I have their contacts. All the women groups have their contacts. It is a matter of going back to them and discussing things with them. Everything that we can do together, we will do. So that is the plan I have. So that we don't have people who are not empowered. Because after you've empowered somebody, you realize that that same person can empower somebody else. That is so nice. So in the long run, what can you tell the youth and someone out there looking at you like, you're 29 now and you're MCA, not a minute cup of coffee. What can you tell them as a last word to engage and defend against? There's nothing that is not achievable. As long as you stay true to your course, you stay focused, there's nothing you can't achieve. It's only that people believe that you must have this and that. But there's a power within. If you unleash that power within you, you realize that you can get to places. It's only that we've always believed that I can't do this because of this. That because of this part is a part you should do away with. And you realize that you can achieve anything. Because for me, my case, I was working against so many odds. First, I was an independent candidate against strong parties. Secondly, I'm a youth. Resources is an issue to some youths. It was an issue to me too. I'm all that. If I looked at that, seeing a fika, I'm a fika. But I knew all that was there. But I said, we are going forward. So the idea is, go forward. Because at some point in my compensary, I realized some people joined. Because I saw the vision is a strong vision. People started joining Munginana, let me support you today. Munginana, I support you tomorrow through the last minute. So just stay focused. If you believe you can do it, you can. I am motivated by your story and the fact that many of you, there is power in me. I am challenged. As you have seen and heard, there is a power in you. You just have to stay focused. There is a mountain. There's big something that you cannot come across. No. And Ambele, you will get the supporters. You will get the motivators. You will get the mentors. Just believe in yourself. Now song Ambele. This has been your thin action. I am Nyangueso Grenis.