“When Kenya got her independence, it was all about young people coming in. The Same old guards who have refused to leave and we, young people, think that time has come to come up and strongly put our foot down and say: ‘ it is our time now , we are ready for leadership’ “Ms. Jane Florence Njiru representing the Ford Asili Party youth in Kenya told AfricaNews in the Hague. She together with Yusuf Abubakar Mahmoud of the Shirikisho Party represented Kenyan youth to the seminar.

Organized by the Dutch Youth Institute for Multiparty Democracy, the Seminar brught together delegates from Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and the Netherlands.

“ There is no simple YES or simple NO” to the answer whether young politicians are ready to take over from the older generation, says  Susan Adu-Amankwah of Ghna’s Convention Peoples Party youth. According to her, youth need to be trained to be politicians, just like teachers or medical doctors are trained before engaging in their careers.

“ You need to know certain aspects in governance and other things”, she adds.

Slightly disagreeing with Njiru, Abubakar Mahmoud says “ there is a principle in Kenya that there should be inter-generational cooperation”, a view he shares with Jeroen Mimpen, a participant from the Netherlands.

“African political youth should cooperate with the older generation in a constructive, progressive, and consultative way”, says Mimpen who is vice president for the D66 party youth organisation. “ You should let them know and see what you can offer and what you can contribute, he adds, noting that in countries where the old generation blocks all possibilities, youth should put their ideas forward via media and through their constituencies.

This seminar takes place as Sierra Leone is coming out of a violent electoral process marred by violence caused by political party’s youth. It also comes months ahead of general elections in Kenya, where 83-year old and former president Arap Moi publicly announced the endorsement of his 77-year old political foe and incumbent president Mwai Kibaki. This was perceived by many as a plot to block the youth from public affairs.