Time for stakeholders to invest in Kenyan youth
The World Bank estimates 800,000 Kenyans join the labour market each year, and only 50,000 succeed in getting professional jobs.
Not surprisingly, the high level of unemployment has been blamed for escalating crime and insecurity.
The unemployment problem is global and presents a particularly difficult labour market experience for youth.
Youth represent the most abundant asset Kenya has or will have over the near future.
Nonetheless, there have been a considerable number of surveys, reports and studies that invariably conclude there are persistent risks and challenges faced by Kenyan youth. No jobs for graduate.
Those who own business are struggling, with regulations and competitions from other giant companies.
Today many youths in the country are trying creative and other jobs because of lack of opportunities and they have to survive.
We need our government and all the policy makers to start thinking and acting to support the youths.
We have things such as Access to Government Procurement Opportunities, but with no specialty, the youth have to struggle to get a chance.
When we talk of digital world, we have to change the way of doing business.
In the war on corruption, let us invest on technology from primary to secondary schools and colleges and make it a culture.
We must teach our kids through practice that hard work pays; otherwise, we will produce a generation that believes in shortcuts.
The creative economy is recognised as a significant sector and a meaningful contributor to national gross domestic product.
It has spurred innovation and knowledge transfer across all sectors of the economy and is critical to foster inclusive development.
The country must now embrace the creative sector, and especially now with the pandemic, we have to ensure we support everyone including the youth.
In a time of rapid globalisation, many countries recognise combination of culture and commerce the creative industries represents is a powerful way of providing a distinctive image of a country or a city, helping it to stand out from its competitors.
Unfortunately, the youth have been marginalised and neglected; they’ve been put on the periphery.
During campaigns, politicians promise heaven on earth to them. It is only then that they value young people; promising to take into consideration their concerns, but once they get into power, nothing happens.
The government and politicians are antagonising young people more, they’re pushing them to desperation.
It is time for youth in Africa to rise and stand against false and empty promises every year and vote in the right and true leaders who have the right agenda and manifesto to help improve the youth and the environment for doing business.
With the Building Bridges Initiative, the youth of this country must have a special place and someone to help and support them.
Youths also should be honest and deliver when given such opportunities honest and good service.
No country can remain prosperous and stable without investing in its youth.
Kenya must realise there won’t be long-term security and development without opportunities for youth.
There is an urgent need to tackle worsening unemployment as it threatens social cohesion, political stability, and economic growth.
In particular, the government must do more and join hands with civil society and the private sector to provide conditions where young entrepreneurs can prosper.
For better development and improvement of the economy, youths must be number one priority in African. — The author is a freelance journalist.
