Gov't rolls out employment opportunities to benefit millions of youth - DP Kindiki

More Kenyans are set to access employment opportunities as the government fast-tracks job creation programmes to provide income sources for millions of youth.

This is according to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who said the programmes are being rolled out in various sectors of the economy as well as the digital space, through an intensified labour mobility campaign.

DP Kindiki on Thursday said the government is keen on ensuring more youth are employed and are in meaningful engagements aimed at improving their lives as promised by President William Ruto.

“Our jobs creation programme is on course. We are capitalising on every effort to accelerate it and increase the numbers of our people who are engaged in meaningful employment,” said Prof. Kindiki.

He spoke when he held an inter-ministerial and agency forum on fast-tracking job creation programmes at the DP’s official residence in Karen, Nairobi.

The DP noted that 160, 000 Kenyans have so far been roped into the affordable housing programme with more opportunities being created as it is extended across the country.

He also stated that approximately 200,000 Kenyans have acquired jobs abroad through the Labour Mobility Program, 5,000 Kenyans of them in the maritime sector.

“We are creating jobs through a two-pronged approach. In the Kazi Kwa Ground programme which focuses on the public sector; the housing programme, the construction sector and others are also enabling the private sector to have more openings. We are also investing in job creation in the digital space through ‘Kazi Mtandaoni’ through the ICT hubs, content creation and business outsourcing,” said Kindiki.

He said the Labour Mobility Program is being extended to other countries which the government aims to enter into agreements with to allow Kenyans to work.

Already the government has signed bilateral labour agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Kingdom, Germany and Austria and thousands of Kenyans have acquired jobs.

“We are encouraging as many young people as possible to go and work anywhere in the world. We are in talks with a number of other countries towards concluding labour agreements: USA, Canada, Angola, Bahrain Serbia and others,” the DP noted.

The DP pleaded with Kenyans to take advantage of the programme, encouraging them to invest back home.

“We are working hard to create jobs at home but those who get jobs abroad are free to go and work through the Labour Mobility Program. We are not sending them away, we are just encouraging them to go work, invest here and come back home when they wish,” the DP added.