President Ruto Encourages Youth to Tap Into Government Job Programmes
Murang’a, The Gulf Observer: President William Ruto has urged Kenyan youth to seize opportunities provided by his administration to address joblessness, emphasizing three key government initiatives aimed at empowering young people with employment.
Speaking in Maragua, Murang’a County, the President highlighted statistics from the National Council for Population and Development, which indicate that 67 percent of Kenyan youth, who make up 35 percent of the population, remain unemployed. To tackle this issue, the government is implementing targeted programmes across various sectors.
Government Job Programmes for Youth
- Affordable Housing Project:
- The project currently comprises 150,000 housing units nationwide.
- It has already employed over 200,000 youth in various roles, including plumbers, masons, carpenters, and electricians.
- President Ruto encouraged skilled workers to seek employment opportunities within the project.
- ICT Hubs in Every Ward:
- Each hub is expected to employ between 200 and 300 youth.
- The Ministry of ICT will equip the hubs with instructors and necessary facilities once they are completed by Members of Parliament.
- These hubs will also provide access to international digital jobs.
- Labour Mobility Programme:
- The government is actively sourcing job opportunities abroad.
- Kenyan youth are being deployed to countries such as the United States, United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, and the United Kingdom (UK).
- President Ruto emphasized the need to connect local talent with global employment opportunities to combat joblessness and social issues like drug abuse.
Call for Bursary Support for Disadvantaged Students
The President also urged the Controller of Budget (CoB) to allow county governments to issue bursaries to support students from underprivileged backgrounds. He emphasized that all children deserve educational assistance, regardless of whether funds come from the national or county government.
Responding to concerns raised by Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, whose Nyota Zetu bursary programme has faced funding challenges, Ruto assured that the government is working with the Council of Governors to resolve the issue.
“There is no child that belongs to the county or national government. We must work together to ensure bursaries reach those who need them most,” he stated.
With the Mt. Kenya region grappling with drug and alcohol addiction linked to unemployment, the President underscored the importance of economic empowerment and political unity to address the challenges facing Kenyan youth.
