Over 2,500 youth in Garissa County register for overseas jobs
Hafsa Mohamed who completed her nursing diploma course four years ago at Garissa Medical College but could not get a job also expressed hope of getting employment overseas.
Over 2,500 youth in Garissa County registered for overseas jobs during a two-day job fair and exhibition event at Garissa University.
The youth turned up in large numbers following an announcement by Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua urging unemployed youth seeking employment opportunities abroad to register at the first-ever job fair and exhibition event.
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The event was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) with funding from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the National Employment Authority among other stakeholders. The majority of the unemployed youth who registered carried driving licenses and school certificates while others registered for nursing, cleaning, homecare and plumbing job opportunities.
Dayib Abdi Aden was among the youth who registered for driving jobs.
"I have been seeking job opportunities for three years but in vain. I came here to try my luck following the announcement made by the CS Alfred Mutua," he said.
Hafsa Mohamed who completed her nursing diploma course four years ago at Garissa Medical College but could not get a job also expressed hope of getting employment overseas.
CS Mutua said the government was committed to addressing the alarming unemployment rate in the country.
He encouraged the youth to join vocational training colleges to access opportunities in the international labour market.
"We must change our mindset following the shift in the labour market. It's not a matter of chasing a university degree that will not help you get a job opportunity. Let's encourage our youth to join technical colleges for skills that will offer them self-employment and source job opportunities abroad," he said.
He said the government has secured over 2,000 job opportunities for Garissa youth with technical skills in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Poland, the United Arab Emirates and Germany.
"If you have the skills of a butcher, you are securing a job at a butchery that sells halal meat in some of these countries," he told the job seekers.
He warned Kenyans working abroad not to dent the image of the country, saying that some countries have complained about some Kenyan employees who were actively involved in organising demonstrations over petty issues.
Mutua also condemned recruitment agencies for exploiting Kenyans.
He said the government has directed recruitment agencies to refund fees for all unsuccessful applicants to ensure they were not exploited for services that were not offered.
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama called for consideration of all applicants who registered for the overseas jobs.
The governor decried the massive unemployment in the county and the negative attitude of many young people about vocational training colleges.
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