Create jobs for idle youth
What you need to know:
- Unless all that youthful energy, vibrancy, innovation, productivity and hope is harnessed, it risks getting diverted into anti-social pursuits, especially crime.
- One of the biggest challenges is lack of funds for start-ups, especially in the rural areas.
Youth is potentially the most productive segment of society. However, the rising youth unemployment has, rightfully, been described as a ticking time bomb. Unless all that youthful energy, vibrancy, innovation, productivity and hope is harnessed, it risks getting diverted into anti-social pursuits, especially crime.
Many idle youth are being ravaged by abuse of illicit alcohol, drugs and narcotic substances. This calls for proper planning to ensure that the young people who drop off the education ladder have something useful to do. The government deserves praise for coming up with various youth programmes.
Increasing opportunities for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) can boost youth employment or they can use the skills attained to set up income-generating ventures. Available statistics show nearly 1.9 million Kenyans aged between 20 and 24 are jobless. This is 12.5 percent of the population, which is the highest among all the age brackets. The Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated the situation.
Another notable effort is AGPO, the special programme that sets aside 30 per cent of government procurement opportunities for youth, women and persons with disabilities.
The latest initiative is the special digital portal to offer youth a million new job vacancies. According to ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, the Ajira Digital Programme is already yielding fruit. So far, 67 per cent of the trainees are active on online work platforms with a good number of them making money.
The progress in the digital and digitally enabled jobs should be replicated. But there is a need to create openings for young people with artisanal skills as well. One of the biggest challenges is lack of funds for start-ups, especially in the rural areas.
The increasing demand for masons, carpenters, plumbers and other skilled artisans presents an opportunity to tackle the youth unemployment monster. The good policies to enhance skills and create opportunities for youth must be matched with tangible support.
