Address unemployment and tribalism to give youth much-needed lifeline

The World Bank estimates that approximately 800,000 Kenyans join the labor market each year, and only 50,000 succeed in getting jobs.

Not surprisingly, the high level of unemployment has been blamed for escalating crime and insecurity in Kenya.

This problem has made the country’s corruption rate to escalate because of challenges facing the youth, who make a large proportion of the country’s population.

It should be noted that unemployment problem is global and presents a particularly difficult labor market experience for youth.

With the high number of youth now engaging in sports betting, betting firms are on the rise.

Kenya and African countries stand a risk of embracing a dead future if nothing is done now to reclaim the attention of most young people from a social syndrome that is swallowing them.

 The addiction of this generation to gambling and betting is alarming; I foresee an unfulfilled destiny if urgent measures are not taken to arrest the situation.

Needless to say, the demerits of this anti-social act are costly and ignoring this will lead us as a nation to an undesirable end.

It is also notable that the youth in Kenya have not been supported by successive governments, for one reason or the other.

They have actually been marginalised, neglected even; they have been put on the periphery.

Interesting though is the fact that during campaigns, politicians promise them heaven yet what they really want are votes from the hapless youngsters.

Once they get into power, the leaders forget all their promises and only focus on acquiring wealth for themselves.

By doing this, the government and politicians are actually antagonizing young people more - they are pushing them to positions of desperation.

It is time for the youth to rise and stand against empty promises and vote in the right and true leaders: leaders with the right agenda that can help provide an environment for equitable growth and development.

If only the current leadership can deal with tribalism, which has denied many people opportunities, then we will have a leader taking us to the promised land. Otherwise, many Kenyans will continue sleeping hungry and living on the streets.

When the issue of tribalism is adequately addressed, the main cause of conflicts will have been defused and in time, governance will improve, nepotism will decrease, skilled citizens will return home from other countries, investment will be encouraged, development will occur and standards of living will improve.

Without a doubt, tribalism is responsible for a lot of ills such as underdevelopment, corruption, rigging of elections and civil violence.

There is also no meritocracy as people are given jobs based on tribe regardless of having low qualifications, hence the inefficient use of available skills.

Tribalism persists since it provides an avenue through which State goodies and favors trickle down from those in power to their tribesmen.

Therefore, loyalty to ones tribe is given greater relevance than loyalty to ones country.

Finally, the authorities should also realize the importance of working with the young generations: they should give them opportunities because the former have fresh ideas that are yet to be explored.