'Kenyans are scrambling to leave the country' Raila slams Ruto over inability to create jobs

Odinga, who spoke on Friday at the Catholic University while delivering a lecture dubbed ‘A Vision for the Next 60 Years and Beyond’ faulted President William Ruto's regime for failing to set up administrative policies to secure jobs for Kenyans.

Instead, Odinga stated, the Kenya Kwanza administration was looking for jobs abroad for Kenyans after making the country unbearable for the same citizens.

He recalled the golden age for Kenya saying that citizens were adamant about working overseas even for the United Nations, something which everyone was now fighting for.

“Once upon a time, Kenyans were so proud and so confident of their nation that they refused to seek jobs abroad, including with the UN,” he said.

“Today, our people are scrambling to leave the country. A recent study by Pew Research showed that up to 54 per cent of Kenyans would wish to relocate from the country.”

According to the Azimio Chief who insisted that the country was moving in the wrong direction, it was ironic for the government to talk big about securing farm and house jobs for Kenyans abroad when they were mandated to create better jobs for them.

“Our children are struggling to get farm jobs in Israel, to be house helps in Saudi Arabia and security personnel in Qatar. Government officers themselves, including a whole president, openly say that they are trying to get jobs abroad for Kenyans,” he said.

“Young people with the new skills and knowledge that we need are being exported because the government cannot create jobs. And the government sees it as an achievement.”

The opposition leader went on to cite the second liberation for Kenya where he accused the current regime of abetting corruption and ethnicity, the vices he said the forefathers fought against.

Odinga claimed the vices were entrenched in the administration’s appointments in the public service and the recent examination scandal surrounding the KCPE class of 2023.

“Today, we are way off the original dream. The nation is reeling under a heavy burden of corruption, officially sanctioned tribalism, heavy burden of taxation and a harsh and heartless leadership. We are not the confident nation we have been over the decades.,” he said.

“Corruption is killing our future. Tribalism is stealing our potential. Under the current regime, these two vices are officially sanctioned. The country is divided between people with shares and those with no shares.”

He added: “From where I stand, and at my age, I know the country is taking a wrong turn when a 14-year-old child has to go to court to seek justice over KCPE marks. Kenya is failing her children.”

Odinga consequently exuded confidence that the country may return to the right path if the current leadership refocused on the founding vision of this country.

“It is my position that if we return to the founding vision of this country, Kenya can emerge in its 80th or 120th anniversary as one of Africa’s greatest democracies and a secure and flourishing homeland for her children,” he advised.

“We can emerge as a democratic state that is governed by law, respects human rights, and rejects corruption…the country will witness equitable sharing of the wealth that God put at our disposal.”

The remarks by Odinga follow the Ministry of Labour's sentiments that the government would send about 1,500 farm workers to Israel on Ksh.230,000 monthly pay.