The UGM Party held the Lamu County Gig at Mkunguni Square, Mkomani Ward, Amu Island. This event, like previous gigs held in Kisumu and Busia Counties in 2024, aimed to engage the youth in meaningful political discourse while addressing key issues outlined in the UGM Party manifesto. These include tackling youth unemployment by championing innovation and investment in green businesses, promoting environmental sustainability, and bolstering the economy by encouraging young people to venture into green entrepreneurship.
Preceding the Lamu County Gig was a youth town hall, which brought together over 300 young
people from across Lamu. The discussions primarily focused on youth unemployment, a pressing issue in the region. During the town hall, the youth voiced their concerns about the challenges they face, including lack of job opportunities, with many certificate and degree holders often having to do menial jobs to earn a living. They cited nepotism and corruption as the greatest drivers for lack of opportunities for the youth. As a result, many young people have ended up involved in various social ills, including drug abuse, radicalization, and early marriages.
The youth called for the establishment of industries for value addition of products native to the region, such as coconuts, whose value chain has the potential to employ thousands of young people. They noted that the Blue Economy in the region is massively untapped, with opportunities in sustainable fishing, marine tourism, and renewable energy that could transform Lamu’s economy if properly invested in. Additionally, green economy initiatives such as mangrove restoration and eco-friendly tourism could create further employment opportunities while preserving the environment.
They therefore called for the establishment of a skills fund, which could see youth compensated and supported to start and build their businesses in order to build sustainable livelihoods. The UGM Party, as part of its manifesto, believes in investing in the youth bulge the country is experiencing for sustainable development.
The Gig later had performances from local artists Man Azzer and Shebi Le Grand, as well as greenpreneur exhibitions showcasing various businesses, including basket weavers, artists recycling old sails as canvas, and more. The Gig also featured a Donkey Race, highly regarded by the residents of Lamu as a cultural event that, beyond helping young people earn an income, serves as a means of preserving the culture of the people and encouraging both local and international tourism.
The UGM Party hopes to have several future engagements with youth across the country, engaging in politics in a different manner and calling on them to participate actively in political discourse that makes a difference. We call on more Kenyans to join the Green Party that promises total inclusivity as we work together to build the Kenya we all want!