Unemployment in Kenya

Unemployment has remained one of the most daunting challenges in Kenya’s social-
economic development process for most of the post independent period. Unemployment rate
in Kenya is reported by Kenya national bureau of statistics and unemployment rate in Kenya
stands at about 40% of the general population. What are the causes, effects and the solution
taken to curb unemployment in Kenya?

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine called Jane sharing her struggles of getting
a job. she regrets the time she wasted in school studying bachelor of commerce thinking it
will be successful. After graduating in 2010 she was exited and she was sure she could secure
her job, but unfortunately she couldn’t get one. She applied for a job at least 50 companies
but none considered her application.

One year down the line, she was jobless and desperate, but luckily she got a contract with an
insurance company to sell insurance policies. At first she was excited when the sales manager
explained to her about the crazy commissions she would earn from the sales. After signing
the contract she was told to move around for customers. For 2 good months she sold nothing
therefore earning nothing and she quit the job

I also to my friend Aisha who works at the camp in Kenya. We had conversation and one of
them was about unemployment in Kenya since I knew she was struggling to get a job. Aisha
now works for an agency called ‘Save the children’ Aisha had a bachelor degree in business
administration and before she starts working for this agency, she applied for several other
places and also heard couple job interviews. One of the most worse situation that faced her
was when the manager told her to either pay bribe or sleep with him otherwise she won’t get
a job.You can hardly find a job in Kenya without connection and this caused by corruption ,
nepotism, tribalism, high population and racism.

As Jane, knowing that getting a job was so hard she has done voluntary working in different
companies. If you are unemployed, this can also be a good use of your time and help keep
you sane while looking for a fulltime employment. These help to improve your
employability, as you have gain a lot of experience. The benefits also extend into your job,
with over 70% of employers seeing those who have volunteered in the past gain higher
salaries and more opportunities for promotion.
As for Aisha, her uncle managed to secure a seat in the parliament. There was a hope of ray
for Aisha. He managed through his influence and power to secure her a job in one of the
companies that worked in his constituency

Talking to unemployed youths in Nairobi paints this picture better. Simon njenga a graduate
from Maseno university. He did business management and graduate with a second class
honours four years ago he says that he has been searching for a job in vain and wonders what
will happen to him he says that the more the time passes the more worried he gets since the
years he requires as experience to get a job keep passing him by in his frustration he says that
he has become a serious alcoholic and the only way he can go through a day is when he is
intoxicated he doesn’t wish to get a low ranking job like that of a cleaner or a clerk because
he says he did not earn a degree to work as a cleaner

Another youth by the name Anne says that she has been searching a job for two years in vain.
she trained as a human resource manager but cannot get a job. she is son stressed that she is
worried she might develop hypertension. Her parents urged her to go back to school and add
on to her education but she is not willing fearing she might not get a job despite all the
efforts. she says has lost hope in life and fears she might have ton work as a house hep just to
earn some money, she confesses that many are times when she has almost committed suicide

Unemployment in Kenya has now become something that can be compared to a national
disaster. Most youths in Kenya are unemployed but are well trained with degrees and
diplomas.

Since unemployment is rampant the youth should be equipped with entrepreneur skills and
ideas since they don’t get employment that’s having a plan B rather than depending on
getting employed. Self-employment is a key skill in life. it makes one to be his or her own
boss and making a good use of his professional training

The government should also help in reduce in unemployment by should creating more
industries and sectors which in turn will create more job opportunities, it should also control
its population thus number of people entering job market are few among many other
measures

There is a really copmpetition when it comes to getting a job, one has to polish his / her CV
(curriculum vitae) by adding several activities such as several volunteering and work- hard
for other recommendations, patience is also a key for survival in life. However you have to be
patient looking for job. Another thing to curb unemployment in kenya is government should
create many job opportunities and giving people loan to start their own business .creating
retirement age where the old leave office for the vibrant young generations