By George Orido

Kenyans have made a number of proposals for Treasury to consider before the Budget is read tomorrow, with the public focusing mainly on youth unemployment.

In a report to be presented today in Nairobi, the proposals take cognisance of the high level of unemployment — standing at 40 per cent against a world average of 12.5 per cent — and seek larger budgetary allocations for the Youth Enterprise Development Fund.

The report, compiled by the Institute of Economic Affairs, contains Budget proposals from the public and private sector stakeholders who attended an IEA pre-Budget hearing just before elections.

Skills development

“The development of new enterprises shall generate employment for the many youth without jobs. This will lead to a reduction in the dependency of the unemployed on the employed, while also facilitating effective skills development in entrepreneurship and business sustainability,” Nahashon Indiya of the Youth Development Trust said.

He also asked the Government to review the worrying trend of turning polytechnics into universities, warning it could lead to a dearth in technical skills.

Arts culture was also mentioned as being the next frontier in creating jobs for the youth.

According to a recent study by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), the total value of copyright-based industries in 2009 was Sh85.21 billion, representing 5.32 per cent of Kenya’s GDP.

The film industry, for instance, is worth Sh4 billion and employs approximately 15,000 people. According to the report, if fully implemented, the Kenya film policy prepared by the ministry of Communication and Information could grow the industry 10-fold, making it worth Sh40 billion and able to employ 250,000 people.

Further, President Uhuru Kenyatta recently announced Government intentions to construct an ultra-modern film school in Nairobi.

And to grow enterprise, the Government was asked to fast-track the tabling of the Special Economic Zones Bill 2010.

According to Jonathan Chiffalu of the Export Processing Zones, the legislation would facilitate expansion of business frameworks within the East African bloc.

“It would also see increased backward linkages and promotion of small and medium enterprises within the region,” he said.

Health sector

Participants at the pre-Budget hearing also gave their views on health sector allocations, with Health Rights Advocacy Forum’s Josephine Nyambura calling for more funding to improve medical service provision, and recruitment, retention and welfare of health workers.

She said this would address the persistent shortage of health personnel, which stands at an average 1.3 health workers per 1,000 citizens, 43 per cent below the World Health Organisation’s benchmark of 2.3 workers.

“As the country transits to a devolved system of government, it is envisaged that through the IEA pre-Budget hearings and Citizen Alternative Budget there will be increased civil society engagement in planning and budgeting,” IEA Chief Executive Officer Kwame Owino said.