KIGALI - A 46-member delegation of Kenyan town councilors from the districts of Nyandarua and Luanda, on Thursday, visited 500 youth attending a culture and civic education training ‘Itorero’ in Rwamagana.

The councilors, were impressed by the programme, saying that it is one of the ways of shaping the youth, into responsible citizens, as well as, boosting the economy.

Kariuki Muchiri, the chairman of Nyandarua District Council said that they would have been cheated, if they left Rwanda without visiting Itorero, adding one cannot know how good Rwanda is until you visit it.

"Rwandans are wonderful people... I am happy to see the way the country is supporting the youth. The youth make an important social as well as economic pillar,” he said.

"We had a low opinion of Rwanda before we came here, but we are going to use the lessons learned to teach our people in Kenya…we need to be at par with Rwandans.”

Daniel Otwoma, the chairman of Luanda Town District Council, noted that systems like youth cultural and civic training signaled a bright future for the country.

"I have seen with my own eyes why Rwanda has managed to burry its ugly past, so soon. A successful reconciliation process in Rwanda sets a good benchmark for other post conflict societies,” he said.

Jean d’Amour Habimana, one of the youth, drew praise after explaining how a nation, free of conflict, can be built.
For any country to be stable, he said, it must empower the youth and other institutions with instruments of peace.

"In this camp, we are taught about peace, conflict management, reconciliation, good leadership and issues to do with economic development. We go beyond the routine classroom academics, to the real world,” he said.

Hundreds of S.6 leavers from the district started the camp on November 25 and will close on December 15.

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