Go conquer the world, PS urges jobless Kenyan youth

The government is committed to help Kenyan youth seize more than 200,000 jobs abroad, Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shedrack Mwadime has said.

Mwadime said the government is keen on linking hundreds of unemployed young people with job opportunities in European and Middle East countries.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme at the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic in Voi on Saturday, the PS challenged the youth to take on new frontiers.

“Most European countries have a large ageing population hence the need for labour from Africa, which has more youth people. 

“I urge you to move abroad and conquer the world. Take the challenge and capitalize on your skills to create wealth,” he added.

Further, the PS advised them to acquire the required travel and academic documents in advance even as they wait for the opportunities to avoid last minute rush that could result in qualified applicants missing out.

According to the PS, the state is working on a bilateral labour agreement with Germany to secure hundreds of jobs in the hospitality industry.

 “The process is ongoing to sign a bilateral labour agreement with the German government that will see close to 250,000 youth get employment abroad,” the PS revealed.

Mwadime noted that Kenya is banking on exporting skilled labour as a key foreign exchange earner.

He said diaspora remittances is now the country’s leading foreign exchange earner, surpassing the traditional earners - coffee, tea and horticulture.

Statistics from the Central Bank, Mwadime said, diaspora remittances in 2022 amounted to at least Sh4.027 billion US dollars equivalent to Sh664 billion per year.

He said the current push for diaspora jobs could see remittances hit more than a trillion.