Muturi to work with private sector to curb youth unemployment, improve internships

Public Service and Human Capital Development CS nominee Justin Muturi has proposed the establishment of a Kenya National Internships Programme to streamline skills development while integrating the private sector as partners.

This follows concerns raised by the leader of the majority, Kimani Ichungwa'h, who questioned the effectiveness of the current government internship programme, which has left many youths jobless.

“Many of us have received messages from young Kenyans who have gone through the government internship programme asking what the plan is for onboarding them as permanent staff in government or linking them with other state agencies for permanent jobs. What plans do you have to make sure that that internship programme not only helps the youths gain experience but also helps them get linked to actual permanent and permanent jobs?” Ichungwa’h posed.

In response, Muturi acknowledged that he has also received significant feedback about the programme. He noted that if approved, he would reassess the programme to involve the private sector.

For instance, he said, the government can continue paying stipends to interns while providing incentives to private companies to attract more youths into the programme.

Speaker Moses Wetangula and his deputy Gladys Boss and other members of the National Assembly Committee on Appointments vet Cooperatives CS nominee Wycliffe Oparanya on Sunday, August 4, 2024. (Photo: Parliament)

“I have received over 300 questions regarding this programme and the employment of the interns. I think its implementation has faced a lot of problems because young Kenyans have gone through the programme and been posted to ministries but after one year, they find themselves back on the streets. The programme should be changed to Kenya's national internship programme, where both the government and private sectors become active players. It would have been much better if the programme had involved the private sector because the skills that young Kenyans have are valid,” he said.

He noted that while it is unrealistic for the government to employ every Kenyan who has completed their education, it remains the government's responsibility to foster economic growth and attract young talent.

“It is not right to assume that the government can employ every Kenyan who has gone through school but on the other hand, the government has a responsibility to grow the economy of this country and attract young Kenyans,” he said.

Addressing concerns about age and succession planning within the public service, Muturi criticised the current state of human resource management.

He said he will carry out regular audits and if there are skewed recruitments, he will point them out as they are.

“The issue of age and succession planning in the public service: It is right to say something has gone wrong within the HR department in the public service. You find some senior people in the public service who are almost exiting, while the people who deputise them are lowly placed; that is a mistake. The issue of on-the-job training seems to have taken a back seat,” he explained.