The government’s desperate search for jobs for the millions of unemployed Kenyans has taken a brief hiatus after processing 5,931 job offers in the last one month. The National Job Recruitment Program began in late October and has since been a facade of progressiveness in President Ruto’s regime following the introduction of killdozer bills in the past year.
In his desperate move to morph the already tarnished legacy, President Ruto made more than 60 trips in two—with most of them geared toward searching for overseas jobs and attracting investors. Over 60% of youths remain employed in Kenya, despite the array of flemoboyant displays from state officials earning in quadruples.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has been spearheading the National Job Recruitment Program for last month. October witnessed an immense turnout for the Qatari job recruitment fare at the Kenyatta International Convection Center (KICC) and the Kabete National Politechnic, Nairobi.
The program was on strict guidelines and excessive adherence, leaving thousands disappointed by the process. The agency, which the Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mtua, kept on anonymity, did ask some job seekers to shave their moustaches and beards, and the cabinet himself chided the job seekers for failing to groom presentably and professionally.
The CS said the temporary halt was to give room for the preparations for the Jamhuri celebrations scheduled for December 12th, 2024.
“The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection wishes to inform the public that ongoing national recruitment preparations for this year’s take a brief pause to accommodate preparations for this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations,” CS Aflred Mutua stated.
“During this time, we will process the 5,931 job offers already secured, including the issuance of passports and certificates of good conduct for successful applicants. Additionally, this break will allow us to take stock of the exercise, realign schedules, and incorporate feedback to enhance the program’s effectiveness,” he added.
The latest job recruitment program is covered in Nakuru, Baringo, and Nyandarua counties. The ministry said that the “new schedule for the recruitment drive will be announced after Jamhuri Day.” Successful applicants in the just-ended phase will be notified of their status by Wednesday, 4th December 2024, the CS said.
While in Nakuru County, the CS was disparagingly booed by job seekers who blamed the government for lying to them after it turned out that there were facilitation fees that the prospects were expected to pay. The National Job Recruitment Program has since drawn less attention in the country, despite the rising unemployment rate.
President Ruto has faced massive criticism from several Kenyans—baliming him on the frailing economy, triggering a drastic business closure and mass redundancies. A couple of companies complained about the exorbitant taxes, including the housing levy. Heithtened taxation has left Kenyans crippled economically, tanking the purchasing power to least mark without raising their minimum wages.
Some of the overseas job offerings to Kenyans included waiters/waitresses, security, bricklaying, plastering, painting, house cleaning, driving, and many more on the casual list.
