CS Mutahi Kagwe’s appeal to workers and young people–Defend Kenya from Criminals; create wealth through jobs:

Essence of working to foster growth & development:

Following recent demonstrations and protest marches that have ended up chaos and anarchy in recent months in the country, Agriculture & Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has appealed to all young people to safeguard the integrity of their peaceful demonstrations by rejecting criminal infiltration, warning that continued unrest could sabotage the country’s job market and economic future.

Sen Kagwe recently visited Ngong Veg farm and processing facility in Kajiado County where he CS emphasized that while the right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution, the country is at risk of plunging into a vicious cycle of problems if investors’ confidence is eroded by instability with this leading to fewer jobs, especially for the young population.

“Whose country is this? It is ours and we must protect it,” Kagwe asked and explained. “When criminals infiltrate peaceful protest marches and cause destruction, they don’t just damage property, but also damage Kenya’s reputation; this scares off investors and make it harder for the young people to get the very jobs they are demanding to be provided with by the private sector and government,” observed Sen Kagwe.

He warned that the perception of instability already being projected to the international community could redirect critical investments to other, even less democratic but peaceful nations  shrinking employment opportunities, particularly in agriculture, one of Kenya’s biggest job creators.

Ngong Veg, which currently employs over 5,000 workers, was cited as an example of what is possible when investment flows and agribusiness thrives. The firm is a beneficiary of funding from the Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC), whose leadership accompanied the CS during the tour. The funding has enabled the facility to expand its operations, creating thousands of jobs while contributing to Kenya’s national food security.

Sen. Kagwe urged the young people to channel their energy into building and protecting economic opportunities instead of allowing criminals to hijack their cause.

“If we let violence and lawlessness take over, we kill the very future we’re trying to build. Jobs are the real solution to frustration but jobs creation processes require peace, security, and a stable environment to grow and expand the processes and investments,” he averred.

The CS reiterated his appeal that the Ministry of Interior, which has the mandate to maintain peace, stability and security in the country, should firmly and fast act against criminal groups that are using the Gen Z demonstrations as a cover to cause havoc and destroy properties and cause deaths. He appealed to and urged all young people in Kenya to rise up and work as defenders of the country’s future.