UNODC Youth Workshop #DearDiary

As I dig for the right words to express a few thoughts and a wave of mixed mainly unbelievable emotions, let me say that I had the most empowering few days. Memories I will treasure infinitely! Experiences my kinda soul takes time to properly digest because the dying Thomas in me still shows up unannounced to remind me about self-doubt.

On Thursday afternoon after a day and a half of just concluded UNODC YOUTH 'National Youth Workshop On Good Governance, Integrity, And Anti-Corruption' at the United Nations, Nairobi Kenya, my name filled the large complex through the speakers.

The well-spoken moderator for the after session touching on Crime and Corruption in Kenya and how it affects the youth of this country probably had no idea how my ears were unsure of my feet. I quickly looked at a big sister sitting beside me the whole entire time and her eyes gave me my feet their strength back.

I was sharing a little bit of my story and representing an organization I love being counted as an affiliate of. When I sat next to the head of UNODC-ROEA Criminal Justice Branch Ms. Charity Kagwe, my mind flashed back to the hood I live in for a split second then zapped back to the reality of sharing a seat with the most powerful people on earth.

The fact that I was rained on a few hours earlier no longer mattered as the view also helped me capture a few shocked faces some of whom had openly gossiped about the mud I had dragged to the United Nations Offices gate that morning. I thank the universe for black jeans and brown leather shoes and a former handkerchief without forgetting washrooms!

When I took the stage, a fire I usually suppress blazed my fear and handed me the courage to say a few words about my experience with prisons both as a former inmate and now as working with CleanStart Kenya. The dropping jaws in the large hall told me that most young people don't know much about prisons. This was confirmed by most when we were later having the evening tea.

As much as I felt my contributions had an amazing effect on that crowd, I am the one still dazzled by how much I learned. Juliani (A respected Hip-hop artist in Kenya) said our problem as the youth of this country is not being hungry enough to chase what we want so we spend most our time complaining how things should be then do nothing about it yet we hold the cards right in our hands.

Ms. Charity Kagwe insisted that we as the youth of over 70% of the current population have the capability to change things. To lead Africa in becoming a role model by crippling crime and corruption. It is our mandate to change the future. That integrity is what will restore the equality corruption has sucked off our society.

USAID Patricia Ware or Mama Pat as she lovingly demanded we all call her told me that our problem is the competition of funds yet we are supposedly fighting the same battle... a better world. Combined efforts can minimize waste of time and resources but the greed that comes with a selfish being has had a rich Africa still in chains even after her children gaining themselves independence.

As the Regional (East Africa) Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes - UNODC Mr. Amado Philip de Andres shook us with the fact that eleven million tonnes of heroin find its way to our coast. As he implored the government through the Nairobi Governor and a few other officials to empower the boy child in this country.

I also learned that children as young as seven years old are being used to carry guns in slums and densely populated urban estates for money. That prescriptions drugs are taken by children as young as twelve years old. That human trafficking is on the rise which explained the rise of missing people notifications on my social media platforms. How crime is on the rise especially after the chilling recounts of a reformed brother from Mombasa.

I also experienced the creative masterminds using art to do something about spreading awareness. Small organizations concentrating on their respective grassroots backgrounds to try and fix what we should have been fixing all along. That we all have our roles to play for that change we keep looking for in government offices.

I am still numb from the whole experience... The fire it ignited is still burning being fueled by the need to do something. To spread change or play my part. To ignite a few more fires and watch them burn. It definitely did a number on me!