Labor Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has been forced to issue a clarification after hundreds of youths from Kisii County who had turned up for a national job recruitment program expressed their frustrations after the recruitment drive failed to take off.
Speaking outside the Kisii Polytechnic main entrance on Monday, January 28, the more than 100 jobless youth armed with academic papers got angry after the Polytechnic’s management told them that no such exercise was scheduled to take place within the institution.
The job seekers, optimistic that they would secure semiskilled jobs in the Middle East, were shocked to find closed doors.
There was no recruitment drive as posted on social media platforms by CS Mutua on November 18, 2024, in an advertisement that listed 52 vacancies.
The exercise was to recruit gardeners, plumbers, electricians, teachers, and engineers among others.
“What do you mean. You post an advert online, we avail ourselves using our own fare, like me I came from far and I am here at the gate with nowhere to go,” said Lydia Moraa.
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Mutua responds to angry Youth in Kisii after recruitment drive fails to take off
Disappointed with the turn of events, the youth demanded to know why the government failed to communicate.
CS Mutua on Monday evening told Citizen TV that the Ministry sent out a notice in early December putting on hold the recruitment exercise.
He said that the government wanted the six pilot counties to process the initial job offers and also streamline the system before announcing the new dates.
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The CS added that the government will announce new dates for the next recruitment drive in the coming days.
Mutua has in the meantime apologized to the hundreds of youths who turned up at the Kisii Polytechnic saying he is encouraged by their dedication.
The government’s national recruitment exercise aims to link skilled Kenyans with overseas employment opportunities, addressing local unemployment challenges.
5,931 Kenyans secure jobs abroad through national recruitment exercise
Last year, the Labour CS announced that 5,931 Kenyans had secured job opportunities abroad since the launch of the initiative in November.
Speaking at the Nyandarua National Polytechnic today, Dr. Mutua highlighted the program’s success, revealing the number of recruits from six counties so far: Machakos (752), Makueni (410), Kitui (901), Nakuru (2,516), Baringo (640), and Nyandarua (925).
“The overwhelming response and success of this exercise demonstrate the commitment of our government to empower Kenyans through labour migration. These job offers will not only transform individual lives but also boost remittances to the country,” said Dr. Mutua.
He urged Kenyan youth to embrace technical training in the many Institutions across the country, saying many employers are looking for persons with technical know-how.
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