Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha has urged young people in Limuru to take advantage of government programmes and pursue small businesses as the country grapples with economic challenges.
Ms Wamuratha, who accompanied Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during a development tour of the area, said the youth should focus on creating livelihoods rather than being drawn into political confrontations.
Addressing residents in Limuru, the Woman Representative said the economic difficulties facing many young people required practical interventions, including support for small enterprises.
She cited a group of young people from Ngecha who had approached her seeking assistance to acquire equipment for a car and motorcycle washing business.
Ms Wamuratha said similar initiatives could be supported among young people in Limuru, including businesses targeting laundry and other services.
“Things are tough. It is better for the youth to benefit from the opportunities available and start small businesses,” she said.
She said Parliament had been given an opportunity by the administration to support programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and urged young people to identify viable enterprises that could be developed with assistance.
The Woman Representative said people running established businesses should also be encouraged to create opportunities for those starting out, arguing that economic empowerment required cooperation between government, entrepreneurs and communities.
Ms Wamuratha also called for a shift in political discourse, saying leaders should devote more time to delivering services and accounting for their performance.
She challenged elected leaders to prepare performance scorecards showing what they had accomplished and allow voters to assess their record.
“Next year we will give you a scorecard. Everyone will come with a scorecard to show what they have done, and you will judge us,” she told residents.
Her remarks came during Dr Kindiki’s tour of Limuru, where the Deputy President inspected and launched development initiatives as part of the Government’s efforts to showcase projects and programmes being implemented in the region.
Ms Wamuratha said elected leaders should concentrate on their responsibilities instead of spending excessive time fighting one another.
“We do not have much time to be fighting each other. Our focus should be on work,” she said.
She further urged residents to judge leaders by their record of delivery, rather than political rhetoric.
The Woman Representative also touched on the political debate surrounding the current administration, telling residents that she remained committed to supporting President William Ruto’s government.
She said leaders would continue explaining the administration’s development agenda to the electorate while urging residents to assess what had been delivered.
Ms Wamuratha’s remarks come as political activity in the Mt Kenya region gathers momentum ahead of the 2027 General Election, with leaders increasingly using public development forums to discuss both government programmes and their political records.
However, she sought to place the emphasis on service delivery and economic empowerment, particularly for young people facing unemployment and limited access to capital.
She said supporting small enterprises could provide young people with income generating opportunities while helping communities build sustainable local economies.
The Woman Representative urged Limuru residents to work with leaders on development initiatives and use available government opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
She also reiterated her commitment to being judged on her performance, saying leaders should return to the electorate with evidence of what they had achieved.
The call comes at a time when youth unemployment, access to capital and the high cost of establishing businesses remain major concerns for many young Kenyans.
For Limuru’s young people, Ms Wamuratha’s message was that political engagement should go hand in hand with pursuing economic opportunities and demanding accountability from elected leaders.
