By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The youth of Kenya have been encouraged to seize available opportunities both locally and internationally, as the future is in their hands.
During the international job mobility pathways session at the Jamhuri National Job Fair, which concluded its week-long events at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) in Nairobi, Deputy President Prof. Kindiki emphasized the critical role of the youth, who represent the largest demographic group, in propelling the economy both presently and in the future.
According to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, the Deputy President stated that the Government is dedicated to creating sustainable solutions to unemployment and increasing household incomes, asserting that job creation addresses not only national issues but also global challenges.
He further noted that the Government, through various agencies, is prioritizing the recognition of prior learning to enable more skilled youth to access opportunities in the global labour market.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs reported that over 6,000 skilled Kenyans have benefited from this certification process.
During the same event, Dr. Alfred Mutua, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, emphasized the Government’s dedication to facilitating the entry of a greater number of skilled Kenyan professionals into the international labour market, particularly in sectors such as ICT, healthcare, and engineering.
He articulated that enhancing Kenyan involvement in the global labour market would result in a “brain gain” through the transfer of skills and technology.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, representing Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, highlighted a comprehensive strategy to address unemployment, which includes local employment opportunities (kazi kwa ground), online job prospects (kazi mtandaoni), and overseas employment (kazi majuu).
The event also marked the official launch of the Global Labour Market Strategy (GLMS), which provides a framework for managing labour mobility on a global scale.