Isiolo youths say rarely informed of job opportunities in government

A section of Isiolo youth have accused the county and national government of not informing them of available opportunities and ostensibly reserving the jobs for their cronies, exposing them to inexplicable suffering.

The young people shared the frustrations they faced while visiting various offices including those of Non-Governmental Organisations that they claimed hardly publicly share information on available vacancies.

Led by Adan Hussein, they termed lack of information as their biggest undoing, saying many of them had proceeded all the way to college but their certificates were gathering dust in their homes.

"Many of the public offices hardly share information on available opportunities. We only find new officers when we visit them," Adan said, adding that as the majority group in the county, youths must be adequately involved in decision making and before rollout of key programs and initiatives.

His words were echoed by Harun Hussein who lamented that opportunities set aside for the youth were not benefiting those in the grassroots, thereby marginalising them.

"There must be a fair distribution of opportunities and programmes from both national and county governments so that youths from across the county benefit," he said.

Due to an alarming unemployment rate, they said, many youths remained susceptible to drugs, alcohol and substance abuse as well as radicalisation and being misused by rogue politicians to cause mayhem and boo leaders during public events.

"Corruption remains the biggest hindrance to youth empowerment as well as lack of capital to start businesses from which they can fend for themselves," said Abdi Jillo.

Another youth Saadia Hassan Tache called for adequate youth involvement on matters that affect them to enable them share ideas on how initiatives and programs would be enhanced and which should be prioritised.

"Now that we are not adequately involved, we must visit the offices (including the one for the youths) and demand for services and opportunities while ensuring our collective voice is heard," Saadia said.

They spoke during International Youth Day celebrations in Isiolo town that brought together young people from Isiolo, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties. This year's theme was "From Clicks to Progress; Youth digital pathways for sustainable development".

Administration Secretary at State Department of Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Allan Machari who represented Youths CS Kipchumba Murkomen implored Kenyan youths to leverage on digital opportunities for economic empowerment.

"Do not operate in isolation but work with and support each other for improved livelihoods," he said.

He was accompanied by National Youth Council Kenya CEO Margaret Kiogora who told youths to go out of their comfort zone and find the opportunities as "nobody would get them out of the house".

Regional youth Coordinator George Mbogo likened youth space with a supermarket as all had distinct needs and challenges.

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"It is your responsibility to find where the opportunities are and grab them," he said.

County Education and Youth Executive Aileen Kajuju asked youths to take up technical courses being offered at local vocational centres for self-employment and to create jobs for others.

"Let us not focus so much on formal jobs because there are opportunities in the informal sector," she said, citing artisans, plumbers and electricians among the workforce that was being sought in neighbouring counties.

The Executive also implored the youth to be mindful of their mental health by speaking out and sharing issues they could be going through.

Youth Enterprise Development Fund Isiolo County Credit Officer Alex Mithika asked youth to take advantage of loans offered by the Fund for economic empowerment.

Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Musango reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring learners transit to the highest level of education for economic empowerment.