The County Government of Garissa has launched a landmark youth policy aimed at strengthening the participation of young people in governance, development planning and decision-making across the county.
The Garissa County Youth Policy was officially unveiled during a ceremony presided over by Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane, who also inaugurated the Interim Garissa County Youth Council.
The two initiatives mark a significant step in the county government’s efforts to mainstream youth priorities within its policies, programmes and development agenda. They are expected to provide young people with structured opportunities to contribute to decisions affecting their lives and communities.
The new policy establishes a framework through which youth concerns can be incorporated into county planning, budgeting, programme implementation and public participation. It places particular emphasis on promoting youth involvement in governance, leadership, community service and volunteerism.
Speaking during the launch, Dagane described young people as the cornerstone of Garissa County’s development, noting that their creativity, energy and resilience must be harnessed to accelerate social and economic transformation.
He said the policy provides a clear roadmap for ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and their potential fully utilised in shaping the county’s future.
Dagane noted that meaningful youth participation must go beyond inviting young people to public forums. He said they should be actively involved in identifying priorities, proposing solutions and monitoring the implementation of programmes intended to improve their welfare.
The Deputy Governor added that both the policy and the Interim County Youth Council were developed following extensive consultations involving the county government, national government agencies, youth organisations, development partners and other stakeholders.
The consultative process was designed to ensure the policy reflects the diverse experiences, aspirations and challenges facing young people across Garissa County.
Dagane said collaboration among government institutions, young people, civil society organisations and development partners would be essential to the successful implementation of the policy.
The Interim County Youth Council will bring together youth leaders drawn from the county’s sub-counties, youth-serving sectors and other key stakeholder groups. It will provide an organised platform through which young people can engage the county government and contribute to public policy and development discussions.
The council is also expected to strengthen coordination among youth organisations, promote inclusive representation and enhance communication between young people and county institutions.
Through the council, youth representatives will be able to identify emerging concerns, advocate for appropriate interventions and participate in discussions on matters such as employment, entrepreneurship, education, skills development, governance and social inclusion.
The council will also support efforts to ensure that young people from different backgrounds—including young women, persons with disabilities and those from marginalised communities—are represented in county development processes.
The launch was attended by senior county government officials, including County Executive Committee Member for Culture, Gender and Social Protection Hawa Abdi Sahal and County Executive Committee Member for Education Ebla Minhaj.
Chief officers, youth leaders, representatives of development organisations and other senior government officials also attended the event.
The presence of officials from different county departments demonstrated the administration’s intention to treat youth development as a cross-cutting responsibility rather than the mandate of a single department.
Under the new approach, youth priorities are expected to be considered across sectors, including education, health, culture, sports, social protection, trade, agriculture, peacebuilding and economic development.
The policy comes at a time when many young people face challenges such as unemployment, limited access to skills and capital, inadequate representation in decision-making structures and restricted opportunities to participate in public affairs.
By establishing an institutional framework for youth engagement, the county government hopes to create a more coordinated response to these challenges while unlocking opportunities for young people to contribute to community development.
The focus on community service and volunteerism is also intended to encourage young people to take an active role in addressing local challenges. This may include participation in environmental conservation, peacebuilding, civic education, social support programmes and other community-led initiatives.
County officials said effective implementation would require sustained funding, strong partnerships and continuous engagement with young people at ward, sub-county and county levels.
The launch of the policy and inauguration of the Interim County Youth Council signal a shift towards a more inclusive governance model in which young people are recognised not only as beneficiaries of government programmes but also as partners in development.
The county administration reiterated its commitment to working closely with youth representatives and other stakeholders to translate the policy’s provisions into practical programmes and measurable opportunities.
If fully implemented, the Garissa County Youth Policy could strengthen youth representation, improve coordination of youth-focused initiatives and ensure that the county’s young population plays a central role in shaping Garissa’s development agenda.