This archive report was first published on 14 November 2019.
On November 14, 2019, the government made a significant move by reducing the charges for obtaining a credit reference bureau clearance certificate, a prerequisite for fresh university graduates seeking employment.
This decision is a welcome step towards creating a fairer ground for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access job opportunities.
By reducing the charges, the government has amplified the possibility of competent youths applying for suitable vacancies, despite the constitutional requirement of clearance certifications.
However, the issue of youth unemployment in Kenya remains a conundrum for policymakers, with a growing number of graduates and a large youthful population.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the country has a population of 47 million people, with a declining employment climate and a trend of downsizing or closing down operations.
While reducing the CRB charges is not a panacea for the problem, it is a policy intervention that eases the obstacles that make it difficult for youths to apply for jobs they qualify for.
As economist Obed Nyangena notes, the social protection policy should consider the unemployed youth in the same lens as the elderly, to prevent the loss of youth talents and skills.
