Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka expressed dismay on Tuesday, stating that the Kenya Defence Forces recruitment process was both heartbreaking and disappointing.
"When I saw the clip last night, I was truly heartbroken and have long been disappointed with our country's situation," he said.
This comes after thousands of former National Youth Service officers on Monday showed up in their thousands at the Embakasi Garrison with the prospects of being absorbed into the KDF.
KDF announced the recruitment on September 16 while releasing the shortlist of prospective specialist officer cadets, tradesmen and women.
Videos shared online showed a massive turnout of ex-NYS officers at the Embakasi Garrison to scramble for the limited slots available.
"A significant portion of the young people who applied for recruitment were under the age of 21," he said.
Onyonka pleaded with the government to act swiftly in finding ways to assist many depressed youths.
He also criticised his colleagues in the National Assembly and the Senate, suggesting that they should watch the video clips and make better use of available resources.
"They often take flights and trips abroad without attending legislative sessions, costing the country around Sh26 billion annually. Consider the potential impact of that same amount of money on these young people,'' he said.
Onyonka emphasized the importance of critically analysing the country's situation and seeking practical solutions for the unemployment issue.
''Members of Parliament have often failed to grasp the urgency of our wasteful spending and resource allocation. Let's reduce our extravagance and implement policies that have a substantial impact on vulnerable populations,'' he added.
He implied that new strategies should be explored to reduce the cost of living.
