A World Bank economic report released on Wednesday presented a worrying picture on the state of unemployment.
The report indicates how the rate of unemployment continues to rise with an ever-increasing number of graduates being released into the job market yearly.
The report says that out of 800,000 jobseekers, only 50,000 can get emoloyed. It further says that vices like corruption, tribalism, bribery and sexual harassment are the major contributors to this trend and unless they are addressed the situation is not about to change.
The problem of unemployment has been necessitated by various vices that both the previous and current governments have done little if nothing to address.
Corruption and impunity continue to be the order of the day. At one time Kenya was even ranked top among the most corrupt countries in Africa.
The money set aside by the Government or contributed by donors to create some profit generating projects has constantly ended up in pockets of hungry leaders mandated to oversee the implementation of these projects. A case in point is the Kazi Kwa Vijana initiative where millions of shillings cannot be accounted for.
Huge sums of money have also been lost in the youth empowerment funds project, a Government venture that again saw millions of shillings go unaccounted for. Interestingly, these projects had been put in place to cater for the large number of unemployed youth.
Tribalism is also a major contributing factor to our high unemployment rate. Persons in influential positions are inclined to hire members of their families and community despite some of them not being qualified to hold certain positions. Reports of bribery and sexual harassment have also been on the rise, casting aside any sober way of gaining employment.
These are just some of the vices in the Kenyan job market, which have contributed to massive unemployment.
So many university and college graduates are out there unemployment not because there are no jobs but because of the vices that exist in the job market, vices which these graduates cannot give in to and are below their reach.
Today, our politicians are busy campaigning and forming coalitions that will make the next government. The mammoth crowds attending political rallies are clear indication of the existing high levels of unemployment.
It is everyone’s hope that the new government will work towards improving this wanting situation. Youth empowerment is key to growth of any economy.
Nixon Kanali, Nairobi
