300 SECONDS with Suzanne Silantoi
Policy Analyst and host of ‘Is that so? With Silantoi’ “I got into politics at the age of 23. I was extremely frustrated with the government and I wanted to contribute first-hand in fixing this.”
We spoke with Suzanne Silantoi, who was the youngest Nairobi senatorial candidate in 2017 at the age of 23. She is a public policy analyst, who has recently graduated from University of York with a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Public Policy. Currently she is running a podcast and YouTube channel known as ‘Is that so? With Silantoi’. The aim of this channel is to help viewers understand their role in governance and help raise a politically empowered generation.
HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED IN POLITICS?
I got into politics at the age of 23. I vied as a senatorial candidate in Nairobi, which is the capital city of Kenya. I did this because I was extremely frustrated with the government and I wanted to contribute first-hand in fixing this. I vied as an independent candidate.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGING IN POLITICS IN KENYA?
One of the biggest barriers that young people face when it comes to politics is the notion that politics is only for a select few. These select few are often people who are wealthy or even from political families. Politics has become a money game; however, we have seen more and more young people break this stereotype and have successfully been elected into parliament and the senate.
Another barrier has been that young people are increasingly becoming uninterested in politics and political processes in the country for an array of reasons. This makes them unwilling to learn more about politics and therefore unable to participate meaningfully.
HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE?
One of the ways of addressing this is through civic education. Political information on the continent has often been inaccessible or difficult to understand. This has contributed largely to young people’s understanding on what their role is in improving governance and channels through which they can engage during the elections and in between election cycles.
I am actively seeking to address this issue through the YouTube channel and podcast ‘Is that so? With Silantoi’. Here I break down government matters that have been made to look complex in simple digestible ways. This is with the intention of raising a politically empowered generation.
WHAT CHANGES IN KENYA OR WITHIN THE CONTINENT WILL IMPROVE THE IMPACT OF YOUR WORK?
My work seeks to make government information accessible. Accessibility meaning reach; being able to look for information and finding it. Accessibility also meaning consumable; can the information be understood by an average citizen.
This can be achieved in actively seeking to consolidate government information and making it accessible through affordable and reliable internet access.
WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND/OR CONTINENT?
I dream of a continent that will have systems that work in favour of its own people. Africa has been and continues to be victim of colonialism, neo-colonialism and a leadership that seeks to exploit its people. I think this can be achieved when more Africans are aware of the power, they hold to influence government and policy.
WHAT WAS THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?
Suzanna by Sauti Sol (I had to 😉)