HARNESSING TALENT FOR WEALTH CREATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Leadership is the spectrum of all governance and sustainable development for our lives, communities, Counties, nations and unto the global village at large. More specifically, Kenya’s youth population is about 40% of the total population of 40 million. This number is likely to increase by years. This is a resource asset that cannot be ignored in our sustainable development aspiration and realities. For this matter, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in conjunction and collaboration with the Writers Guild - Kenya is hosting the BIGGEST gathering of young Creative Artists in Kenya. This is in response to the understanding that, in the last 54 years since Kenya’s independence, every year young people graduate from our Basic Education Cycle but most of them are not usefully employed. Those who join Tertiary Education Cycle graduate and many of them become unemployed for long periods, adding extra pressure on society. Yet, most of these youths are highly talented and creative! These PARADOXICAL SENARIOS challenge all leaders and especially educators in Kenya, not 2 to ignore these Vulnerable Human Resources who if their talents and skills are tamed and re-engineered can contribute immensely towards self and national development as we all pace towards Vision 2030 for Kenya and fulfillment of our Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, MMUST in response to the understanding that, the YOUTH can be assisted to prosper, has decided to join hands with other well-wishers to Convene a Summit to chart a way forward for this generation and beyond. The Summit is intended to bring together young people, sensitize and enhance their talents and skills for independent and meaningful co-existence in our current knowledge based economies. Among the key note speakers were: Prof. Ken Walibora Waliaula, Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, Dr. Kennedy Otieno, Mr. Indimuli Kahi among others. The theme of the Summit was “Harnessing Talent for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development.”