Kenyan youths records low SDGs awareness levels

Kenya’s global development agenda Vision 2030 is expected to face challenges from low awareness levels of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among the youth in the country.

According to a report by MK-Africa and Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA), the average awareness for the seventeen SDGs among university students stands at 45 percent compared to the 54 percent average recorded globally.

Despite the low levels of awareness for SDGs, the youth in Kenya overwhelmingly back SDGs as solutions to social, economic and environmental problems.

Areas of concern for the youth include unemployment, corruption, poverty, environmental pollution and tribalism.

Youth involvement is paramount in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals according to TIFA as the youth are the majority in Kenya.

Speaking at the launch of the youth survey report in Nairobi, TIFA Managing Director said that universities have an important role in advancing SDGs to the youth in Kenya.

“Universities are strategically placed to contribute to the attainment of SGDs because it is under university that there can be research done and the research done can come up with innovative ideas on how to implement the SGDs. Over and above that, the universities are well placed to come-up with policies to help the attainment and public engagement in the SGDs”, Ms Ireri said.

The new curriculum (2-6-6-3) is tipped to back the implementation of SDGs in schools as it is considered to be a value based curriculum.