Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador James Kimonyo has called on Rwandan youth living in Kenya to play a more active role in Rwanda’s development.

He made the remarks Friday during Rwanda Youth Forum, an event that brought together 500 members of Rwandan youth who live in Kenya. The event took place at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi. 

The Ambassador narrated how Rwanda has been able to achieve a lot across all sectors and how that has raised the bar even higher for Rwandans to aim at achieving even more. He explained how lack of avenues for a peaceful political change in Rwanda led to the launch of a liberation struggle in 1990 by the RPF-Inkotanyi under the leadership of President Kagame.

"The liberation struggle aimed at promoting national unity, fostering democratic dispensation, ensuring security for all Rwandans, building an integrated and self-sustaining economy; and repatriating and resettling all refugees. This has guided our political systems to date and youth have been at the forefront of the liberation and rebuilding the country,” Kimonyo said.

The High Commissioner cautioned the youth against detractors, especially fugitives and renegades who continue to preach divisive politics.

"The leadership of our country has created conducive business environment coupled with opportunities especially for the youth. It’s important that you put these two to good use instead of wasting time on things that can never improve your lives. Kimonyo noted.

During the forum, Brigadier General Joseph Damali explained what patriotism means to Rwandans and why Rwandan youth have a big role to play.

"When we started the liberation struggle, our commander in Chief President Kagame was in his early 30s and the rest of us were in our 20s but that did not stop us from toppling the regime that had a highly trained and equipped army. This is an indication that youth have all it takes to take the country to another level in terms of development, but this can only be possible when our youth are patriotic which I believe most of you are,” Damali said.

During the forum, participants were inspired by a personal story of 35-year old Kenyan, Mr. Bernard Kioko, founder and CEO of BernSoft LTD who was born to a very poor family that could not afford school fees for his university studies.

Kioko resorted to teaching himself everything to do with computers and later became a software engineer who has achieved a lot in this area, including world renown software’s such as Safaricom Mpesa instant notification platform and Safaricom M-ticketing platform, the famous Live TV interactive SMS platform that allows viewers to read scrolling messages on their screens and others. He has now been able to earn millions because he earns a percentage on each message sent under the platforms.

Niyitegeka Bonavanture, owner of famous VIRUNGA Express Ltd, told the youth how in his early days at the university, he hired a small coaster bus, which he used to transport passengers from Butare to Kigali and back.

This later made him able to buy his own coaster. He later acquired a loan, which he used to acquire a fleet of buses, and expanded his business to various parts of the country.

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