Claiming the space: The inclusion and participation of the youth in Kenya's 11th and 12th Parliaments
By Mzalendo Trust
By Mzalendo Trust
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This chapter reviews <strong>the</strong> global outlook on <strong>youth</strong> representation <strong>in</strong> national parliaments, compares<br />
<strong>the</strong> law <strong>and</strong> practice from selected jurisdictions, <strong>and</strong> highlights lessons <strong>and</strong> best practices that may be<br />
implemented locally with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g frameworks to enhance <strong>youth</strong> <strong>participation</strong> <strong>and</strong> representation <strong>in</strong><br />
Kenya.<br />
Global Outlook on Youth Representation <strong>in</strong> National <strong>Parliaments</strong><br />
A study published by <strong>the</strong> Inter- Parliamentary Union <strong>in</strong> 2018 <strong>in</strong>dicated that representation <strong>of</strong> young people<br />
<strong>in</strong> parliaments st<strong>and</strong>s at a low <strong>of</strong> 2% globally, with only a very small <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>of</strong> 0.3% from 2016 to 2.2%<br />
<strong>in</strong> 2018. About 30% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world’s s<strong>in</strong>gle <strong>and</strong> lower chambers <strong>of</strong> parliament lack representation <strong>of</strong> young<br />
people under 30 years, while 3% lack representation <strong>of</strong> young people <strong>of</strong> under 40 years <strong>of</strong> age. <strong>The</strong> situation<br />
at <strong>the</strong> upper chambers is even worse, with 76% lack<strong>in</strong>g representation <strong>of</strong> young people under <strong>the</strong> ages <strong>of</strong><br />
30 years <strong>and</strong> 20% lack<strong>in</strong>g representation <strong>of</strong> young people under <strong>the</strong> ages <strong>of</strong> 40 years. 16<br />
<strong>The</strong> IPU has <strong>the</strong>refore come up with a campaign where it calls upon member <strong>Parliaments</strong> to work towards<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> young people <strong>in</strong> parliaments, with a target <strong>of</strong> 15%, 35% <strong>and</strong> 45% respectively, for<br />
MPs aged under 30, 40 <strong>and</strong> 45 years, by <strong>the</strong> year 2035. 17<br />
Case Studies<br />
1. South Africa<br />
South Africa has a bicameral parliament compris<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> National Assembly <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> National Council <strong>of</strong><br />
Prov<strong>in</strong>ces (NCOP). Young MPs under <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> 35 years constitute 6% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> national Parliament, with<br />
56% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se be<strong>in</strong>g young women. Majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> young MPs (18) are elected to <strong>the</strong> National Assembly<br />
while <strong>the</strong> rest (5) are elected to <strong>the</strong> NCOP. 18<br />
<strong>The</strong>re exists a bipartisan caucus <strong>of</strong> young MPs known as <strong>the</strong> Parliamentary Group for Young MPs. 19<br />
While <strong>youth</strong> representation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> national Parliament has not fared well over <strong>the</strong> years, this has changed<br />
16 Inter-Parliamentary Union (2018), op cit<br />
17 Inter-Parliamentary Union (2019), Annual Report for 2018/19. (Accessed at www.ipu.org)<br />
18 Parliamentary Monitor<strong>in</strong>g Group (2018), Youth <strong>in</strong> Parliament. (Accessed at www.pmg.org.za)<br />
19 Inter-Parliamentary Union (2018), op cit<br />
6<br />
CLAIMING THE SPACE:
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