Unity State lawmaker Nyakenya Keah. (Photo: Awan Moses)

A female lawmaker from Unity State parliament on Thursday called on youth to be openminded and avoid political manipulations ahead of the anticipated December 2024 general elections.

Nyakenya Johannes Keath said many young South Sudanese are divided along political party lines and lack sense of speaking their minds in an open manner.

Ms. Keah said she has observed that youth overlook important issues in their lives to concentrate on supporting individual politicians.

“We’re mostly divided by political parties, you see me as an SPLM member, SPLM-IO, or SSOA member out there. Whenever we are debating, instead of being honest with ourselves, we see ourselves as enemies,” Nyakenya told Eye Radio’s Sundown Show.

“We overlook what should be the topic of discussion, but we see who is supporting. And we also lack an open mind. We don’t speak our minds in an open manner. That’s our problem in this country.”

According to her, young people tend to criticize personalities rather criticizing their initiatives – but in a positive manner.

“The openness that we do is an insult. Criticizing someone as a person and not criticizing their initiatives. You criticize initiatives in a very positive way, I believe so. Because if you tell me, Nyakenya, this education initiative that you’re doing right now to these young girls, please it’s not a good thing.

If you educate the girl’s child alone. And neglect the male child if they will be a course to pay later on. I will take it seriously because that’s a positive one. But if you tell me this is bad generally without reason and you just insult me it becomes very difficult.

Nyakenya is advising the youth to be wise and not to be misused as the country gears towards elections.

“As we’re gearing towards elections, I’d advise the youth to be wise, not to be misused, and have principles, let your integrity not be mess-up by someone by giving you a small token that will get finish tomorrow.”

“Believe in yourselves, have the determination and the faith that you can be better than any person and you can do anything under this Sun. So, you’ve to believe in yourself because if you feel that someone is the wrong person to be elected, you’ll know from your heart.”