Government of Kenya unveils new jobs plan for youth

By  Lillian  Kiarie

NAIROBI, KENYA: The government has embarked on a new strategy to reduce unemployment and promote employment for young people in the country.

With 2.3 million jobless youths, the Government is aware that it is sitting on an unemployment time bomb and has begun addressing the job challenges.

National Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich in his Budget Speech noted that employers were reluctant to hire inexperienced jobseekers and suggested ways to solve this issue.

“In response to the employers’ reluctance to hire inexperienced jobseekers, initiatives are underway to improve information services to help young people access jobs and training opportunities,” he said.

Rotich added that the Government would develop a subsidy programme to enable employers lower the cost of hiring young people without work experience.

“Under consideration is a tax rebate to tax-compliant businesses and NGOs who hire inexperienced youth graduating from our educational institutions,” he disclosed.

The youth constitute over 70 per cent of the jobless Kenyan population, according to research by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The 2013 Economic Survey reported that Kenya now produces some 60,000 graduates a year.

About 500,000 young Kenyans enter the job market yearly. Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Association (KNFJKA) Chief Executive Richard Muteti says a harsh business environment makes it that much harder for firms to absorb trainees.

Relevant curriculum

“The Government needs to create an enabling environment for businesses by adapting relevant curriculum,” he said. He noted that the calibre of graduates in the market is not adaptapt easily to available jobs.

Muteti added that KNFJKA has been equipping the unemployed with skills to make them self-reliant thus prevent them from engaging in criminal activities. With the economy creating only 660,000 jobs, over 340,000 jobkeekers are left stranded.

Nearly 90 per cent of the 660,000 jobs are in the informal sector.

Gor Semelang’o Chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund says that by end of next month, a Youth Employment Scheme Abroad (YESA) will be in place.

Youth fund

“YESA will address structured labour export expected to create an additional 750,000 job opportunities for young people annually. It will offer a one-stop shop for qualified youths interested in job opportunities abroad, “ he said.

The Youth Fund has developed several products aimed at easing youth to generate diverse jobs.

The fund’s Acting Chief Executive Catherine Namuye says the funds are aimed at helping youth to finance their businesses and become entrepreneurs. She said some of the funds include the film fund for promotion of art.