The world marks Happy International Youth Day on 12th August 2020. Kenya is a country of the youth according to the 2019 Population and Census results which shows that 75% of the 47.6 million population is under the age of 35. The population aged below 35 years was 35,700,787 (75.1 per cent) in 2019 compared to 30,237,255 (78.3 per cent) in 2009.
While the population of 35 years and below population has increased by 5,463,532 from 2009, its proportional share has dropped by 3 percent. These were the results of the census conducted in August 2019.
It is then clear that the majority of Kenyan residents are young people. Most of the young people are unemployed too, with the trading economic website citing that Unemployment Rate in Kenya remained unchanged at 4.90 percent in the first quarter of 2020 from 4.90 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019. In Kenya, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labor force.
Looking at the newspapers and I see stories of the Government of Kenya trying to decrease the unemployment rate in Kenya brings joy to me. It is sad though because there will always be that percentage that will not be employed. Some will remain in the informal sector and never get a formal education. More students keep graduating with degrees, masters, and doctorates from Universities year in year out. They too expect to be absorbed into the workplace which apparently never makes opportunities. Until when should this unemployment menace come to an end.
The government has over and over again promised to absorb the young into entry job positions but not all are. The “Kazi mtaani” initiative is a great one but like someone asked sweeping paths or slashing grass is that a job that we will live to see the results in? That is more of a daily chore, how about they take part in building roads or the railway like this story today states https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001382136/state-to-recruit-800-to-repair-old-railway-line. This would be something that the youth in their old age would say that project has my input. It's all about building a legacy while you live. Initiatives such as giving stipends to the unemployed in the more advanced countries have worked and even though one has no job, one can still live a decent life from what the government offers them. I just hope our leaders that the youth take part in electing and go represent Kenyans in the parliament and the Senate would put out this one of their motions. My prayer is that more and more opportunities may sprout out for the youth particularly in my country Kenya.
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