The Accountant-Mar-April 2017

Governance
and wound up because of massive exodus
of the youth due to exclusion, intolerance
and insensitivity.
The results have been quite unpleasant.
Many parents have been greatly
disappointed by their children. At a time
they concentrated on wealth acquisition,
they overlooked the importance of laying
firm foundations for them through
education. Their children in turn have
remained deficient of the necessary
skills for wealth creation and protections
making the vast majority of parents die
within the first years of their retirement.
It reveals that good retirement and
investment decisions must be pegged on
proper management of the youth.
In order to perfectly scheme in life,
individuals and organizations need to
recognize the youth as the main assets.
Give them good education, teach them
life skills and be a better role model. In
doing so, they will be properly equipped to
make competent decisions in life. In deed
many progressive organizations including
ICPAK have resolved to reverse the trend
by rolling out programmes aimed at
tapping the youth into the mainstream
economy and having the youth as the first
agenda in their meetings. This is because
the youth have been proven to be very
active, loyal, flexible, hardworking and
ambitious.
Today’s youth are outward looking;
open-minded, innovative, astute risktakers
and are projected to live longer than
their parents. Comparatively, many of the
current generation of youth have an easy
access to good education, better health
and most of all, technology. By all means,
this abundance of youthful exuberance
should inspire hope for a better future.
With the youth at the center, the going
Religious organizations
such as the Legion
Maria and Holy Ghost
churches are on the
verge of extinction
due to the dwindling
youth population in
their congregations.
Political institutions
have lost significant
followings owing to their
irresponsiveness to the
youth issues and this
has led to serious voter
apathy in elections the
world over.
concern is guaranteed. Indeed ICPAK has
a whole Committee to deal exclusively on
youth affairs and have identified that the
following will remain the major concerns
as progress is made into the future:
• Competent role models
• Relevant skills and experience
• Continuous professional engagements
in challenging assignments.
• Clear visions and performance
measurement tools.
• Tolerance and accommodation in
decision making.
• Recognition of efforts.
• Strong welfare programs
At Kenya’s independence the youth were
conspicuously represented through the
activities of Mr. Tom Mboya, former
President Daniel Moi, Paul Ngei among
others. This perfect blend of the old
and the youth steered Kenya through
a successful path resulting into Kenya’s
food donation to famine stricken foreign
countries in the 1960s. Indeed US
President Barrack Obama was born out of
such youth empowerment programs!
As the aging continues let us think
about the youth and the future and make
a resolve on how best we should engage
them to be more responsible in the life
ahead and do remember that in this 21st
Century, great leaders are not those who
attract the highest of the votes, profits or
influence but rather those who willingly
strive constantly to empower the youth.
Avoiding the pitfalls that had sunk such
noble ideas is the start point, actualizing
sustainable programs is everything. Thanks
and may God bless you.
40 MARCH - ApRIL 2017