This archive report was first published on 5 January 2020.
As Kenya enters a new year, millions of youth face a bleak future with no job or means to eke out a living. In his New Year message, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to address the challenge of employment, but many are left wondering if this is just another empty promise.
The President's administration has committed to pursuing the Big Four agenda, which includes food security, affordable housing, universal health coverage, and job creation through manufacturing. However, critics argue that this agenda is not being implemented with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.
One of the main concerns is the presence of civil servants who are well past their retirement age but still holding office and receiving hefty salaries. It is estimated that there are many bosses who are employed despite being past the official retirement age.
Veronica Onjoro, a concerned citizen from Mombasa, wrote a letter to the editor, suggesting that these civil servants be allowed to retire and be contracted to assist during crisis situations, creating much-needed room and jobs for young people.
A worried Kenyan in Nairobi also wrote a letter, expressing their concern that the President's agenda is not being pursued with the necessary urgency. They called for friendly loans to start small and medium-scale enterprises, which would provide jobs for the youth.
As the economy continues to bleed jobs, it is imperative that the government takes immediate action to address unemployment. The youth are eager for a chance to be actively engaged in nation-building and not wake up to formless and desperate days.
Related Topics: Jobs, Money, Unemployment, Entrepreneurship, President Uhuru Kenyatta
