This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
COVID-19 Pandemic Wreaks Havoc on Kenyan Jobs Market ¶
Kenya is facing one of its worst employment crises, with at least one million people losing their jobs or being put on indefinite unpaid leave due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multiple interviews and public data from various companies suggest that the numbers could be higher, especially when casual laborers are included.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on several sectors, including tourism, transport, horticulture, communication, and education.
Kenya Airways, for instance, has seen its staff's pay cut by 75%, with over 4,000 employees waiting for a government bailout and the lifting of travel restrictions.
"If you are in a department where there is no work, such as pilots and cabin crew, you will stay at home the whole month. But engineers report for one week and are on leave the next, since aircraft have to be maintained even when parked," a member of staff said.
Other companies, such as Bridge International Academies, have sent hundreds of teachers and other staff on compulsory leave, citing the pandemic as a reason.
Private schools, which employ hundreds of thousands of teachers and support staff, are also struggling, with many considering closure due to the pandemic.
"Private schools entirely depend on school fees paid by parents, meaning if this pandemic continues, most of these schools will cease to exist," Private Schools Association chief executive Peter Ndoro warned.
Security companies, which employ over 700,000 guards, are also feeling the pinch, with many guards being laid off due to reduced operations.
"When hotels shut down, the guards were released. When malls got reduced foot traffic, they reduced the number of guards. It has been very strenuous for the company and guards, some of whom have not worked for over two months," said Evans Muriu, a communication manager at SecurKenya Group Ltd.
Despite the challenges, there are glimmers of hope, with some companies, such as Jambojet, announcing safety plans to resume operations.
