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UNEMPLOYMENT

A Ticking Time Bomb

08 Sep, 2024
47 min 05 sec
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Kenya has the largest youth unemployment rates in the region. According to the Kenya national bureau of statistics, nine out of ten unemployed Kenyans are 35yrs and below. To try and address the matter, the government has invested millions in programmes, funds and different trainings to support the youth. They include, kazi kwa vijana, uwezo fund, the youth enterprise development fund and national youth service. The initiatives have had short term effects due to their temporal nature and long procedures for applying. With the high rates of unemployment, youths opt crime or engage in drug abuse allegedly for mental stability, to avoid stress. Some youth are graduates holding on to hope that a day will come that they shall be employed while others loose the hope and commit suicide. The focus should not only be on the theoretical knowledge but also on practical skills to enhance the personal and career development of the youth ensuring they are employable and skilled to create jobs for themselves. The government should create a conducive environment for the private sector, individual and others to set up businesses thereby promoting entrepreneurship.