Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has announced plans to scale up recruitment of interns in the government.
Speaking during the Human Resource Management Annual National Conference in Naivasha, Kuria assured that the government was committed to tackling the problem of unemployment, especially among the youth.
As such, Kuria announced that the government plans to recruit 20,000 interns in the current financial year, up from last year’s 3,000.
“This financial year the government plans to recruit 20,000 interns up from 3,000 in the last financial year,” the public service CS.
According to Kuria, 70% of Kenya’s population comprises the youth, majority of whom are hopeless due to unemployment.
As such, he assured that the state is prepared to lead from the front in pushing for equal employment opportunities in the country.
He mentioned the proposed “Jobo bila connection” as one of the measures taken to ensure equal and fair access to government job opportunities for all Kenyan youth.
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The platform, he noted, will help to end discrimination based on a person’s background hence locking some people out of opportunities.
Additionally, Kuria urged players in the private sector to join in the efforts of absorbing as many youths in employment opportunities.
Moses Kuria vows to revamp HR system
He noted that the government has lined up incentives to organizations that will offer youth internship opportunities to the youth.
In addition, Kuria announced plans to make membership in the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) mandatory for all HR officers.
The move, he explained, would go a long way in professionalizing the Human Resource function in government.
Subsequently, the government will work to ensure that the Kenya Internship & Jobs Initiative (KIJI) platform will be hosted by IHRM to further streamline absorption of the youth in internship opportunities.
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“The youth unemployment matter should be a concern for all of us because we are not safe unless all of us are safe,” Kuria stated.
“The government can’t resolve the youth unemployment issue alone, so we are appealing to our private sector to partner with us in resolving this crisis.”
Also present at the function were Head of Public Service and Principal Secretary in the department of Public Service Amos Gathecha.
Kuria’s announcement came days after another major announcement stating the government’s plans to revamp the National Youth Service.
While presiding over a function named the NYS Reengineering Program on Wednesday, October 25, Kuria said that the government would recruit 3,000 National Police Service Police Officers and 1,500 Kenya Wildlife Service Rangers exclusively from NYS in wo months.
In addition, Kuria announced plans to replace retiring workers with youth in plans to revamp the public service.