OMACHE: Exporting labour bad for Kenya’s economic future

Last Tuesday, August 12, President William Ruto attended International Youth Day celebrations at Masinde Muliro University in Kakamega county. It was an open forum where questions were directed at the head of state.

Ruto needs to listen to the youth. Whenever there is a problem in the country, it is mostly the youth who suffer. Young people make up the majority of the country’s population, so their needs should be heard.

Ruto needs to create an enabling environment for the youth to thrive. His administration should empower young people through incentives and loans. President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration had Uwezo Fund, and now there is Hustler Fund. Through loans and incentives, young people are likely to set up businesses and engage in other entrepreneurial activities.

Creativity and innovative ideas need to be promoted. Innovation will help address the high rates of unemployment. Kazi Majuu programme is a good initiative, but not a brilliant idea. The labour that Kenya is exporting should first build the nation before it is exported. The homeland needs to be given priority; qualified and competent youths need to work in Kenya first before transferring their knowledge to foreign countries.

It is important to note that Kenyans working in foreign countries face harassment and poor working conditions. Even in Europe, North America and Australia, many Africans, including Kenyans, face racism and other forms of discrimination.

College and university graduates should be assured of jobs in Kenya first before seeking foreign ones. Kenya deserves to be a place of endless opportunities for the youth and other generations.

Some of the countries that attained independence at the same time as Kenya have undergone tremendous transformation. Singapore and South Korea, for instance, have enough job opportunities for their citizens and are now even importing labour. Kenya needs to follow the footsteps of these two countries through actions and not benchmarking.

It cannot be that many of the young people who grow up in Kenya want to secure meaningful employment in foreign countries. Many would like to remain in their country, but unemployment and hopelessness are pushing them to search for opportunities and greener pastures in other countries.

The youth are the future of the nation. No country can develop without empowering the younger generations, especially the youth. The government should focus on investing in the youth for the betterment of the nation.

Kibabii University