To know what you are allowed to do, you need to be well informed about your rights. Below you can read the rights of youth as written in the Kenyan National Youth Policy of 2006.

The policy recognizes the importance of youth to enjoy their youthfulness. Irrespective of social status, sex, the youth have a right to

1.  Life
2.  Meaningful education
3.  Good health
4.  Marriage at the legal age of consent
5.  Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse
6.  Seek meaningful employment
7.  Adequate shelter, food and clothing
8.  Freedom of speech, expression and association
9.  Participate in making decisions that affect their lives
10.Protection from social, economic and political manipulation
11.Ownership and protection of property

Responsibilities and obligations of the youth
The policy seeks not only to safeguard the rights of the youth, but also to help them to understand and fulfill their responsibilities, for the development of society. Towards this goal the youth will:

1. Be patriotic and loyal to Kenya and promote the country’s well-being
2. Contribute to social-economic development at all levels, including through volunteerism.
3. Create and promote respect for humanity, sustain peaceful co-existence, national unity and stability
4. Protect the environment
5. Help to support and protect those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable
6. Promote democracy and the rule of law
7. Create gainful employment
8. Take advantage of available education and training opportunities
9. Develop a positive attitude towards work
10. Avoid careless and irresponsible sex
11. Take responsible charge of their lives

Obligations of adults and parents

The policy spells out obligations for parents and guardians. They should:
1. Promote responsible parenting
2. Provide positive role models for the youth
3. Provide equal opportunities and access to family wealth to the youth, regardless of their sex
4. Meet basic and material needs of the youth
5. Provide guidance and counseling to the youth
6. Train and socialize the youth into different skills
7. Provide financial support to youth projects
8. Offer room for youth participation at all levels
9. Assist the youth to realize their goals and full potential.

Obligations of the State

" It is the obligation of the State to ensure that all its citizens are served to their expectation. It should carefully plan and be involved in developing the youth to be responsible and available to contribute to the current and future nation-building efforts. Specifically, the State should:

1. Be the lead agent in supporting the implementation of the youth policy. This support should cover all the other areas, such as creation of sufficient employment opportunities for the youth, education and health facilities
2. Ensure that the youth enjoy their State rights
3. Provide the necessary framework for young people to fulfill their obligations
4. Create a mechanism and opportunities for involvement of youth in internship."

There are also the articles declared by the United Nations. Kenya signed this constitution on 30 July 1990. It is all about the rights from children and youth to participate fully in the society. This means that Kenya has the obligation to make efforts in realizing these rights!

Article 1
For the purposes of the present Convention, a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.

Article 12

1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. 
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.

Article 13

1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice. 
2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
   a. For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or
   b. For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.

Article 14

1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. 
2. States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and, when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

Article 15

1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly. 
2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. 

Many children and youth are not aware about these existing rights, and that is why many do not stand up to make these rights come true. It’s time for us to make youth aware of these basic rights!