Aaliyah Speech

A report by UN-Habitat shows 48 per cent of 5.2 million unemployed people in the
country are resorting to crime to make ends meet, in a tough economic environment.
Youth migrate from rural homes in search of jobs in urban areas only to face
reality shock of non employment. As the long wait continues some turn to criminal
activities like house break-ins, shoplifting, mugging, stock theft and commercial
sex work in order to cater for their most basic needs.

Why should a young lady who has just graduated result to becoming a commercial sex
worker? Why should a young graduated man resort to crime and get locked up in
cells? Does this sound something that is of utmost importance to you?
Every student seated in this room will soon graduate at one point. What does your
future hold?

What could the reason be for such a large unemployment?

Let’s move to case study B!

Egypt had approximately 15 Million tourist in 2019 whilst Mombasa only received
130,000 tourists in the same year! Do these figures shake your veins? Why should
Mombasa only receive 130,000 tourists? I hope this answers my question. A large
part of unemployment in Kenya is due to extreme low tourism numbers.

So how does tourism help?

Every tourist that comes into Mombasa will use hotels, restaurants, taxis, clubs,
malls. When all the above get busy, so do the factories get busy, and hence
employment increases. The economic effects of tourism include improved tax revenue
and personal income, increased standards of living, and more employment
opportunities.

Mombasa is a destination that has everything under one roof. Beautiful beaches,
amazing wildlife just a few Kms away, marine life, night life. So where is the
problem?

The problem for low tourism numbers is due to 3 main reasons. These are
1. Lack of open sky policies in Mombasa - the Kenyan government is still
adamant on allowing major international carriers to land in Mombasa hence not
allowing growth in tourism
2. Lack of Marketing - Mombasa till today does not have its own tourism
board that can talk about its beautiful city.
3. Lack of infrastructure - traffic in Mombasa can really get hectic and
hence not allowing free movement of tourists restricting growth.

What choices do we have?

1. Do something about it today so that we can secure a better future for
ourselves.
2. Shut this resolution today and cry a few years later when it’s our turn
to get into the business world.

I know that I have the opportunity to make a difference today and change this for
a better tomorrow. That’s how smart minds think. What does your mind think?

In summary ladies and gentlemen, if we manage to enable the above resolution, this
will forever solve the tourism crisis that Mombasa is facing. Imagine a mombasa
that attracts more than 5 million tourists a year? Imagine how much employment
would be created. Imagine seeing every youth being guaranteed a job as soon as he
graduates. Mombasa can become safe again. We don’t need commercial sex workers.
Everyone has a right to live a descent living.
As I exit the stage today, I shall allow the smart minds here to make their wise
decisions and to vote this resolution to pass today.

Thank you and God Bless you all.