Nairobi: The Ministry of Labour has unveiled an ambitious employment strategy aimed at addressing Kenya's growing graduate unemployment crisis. Officials highlighted that only 250,000 out of the one million graduates from the country's tertiary institutions can currently be absorbed into the formal economy each year.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the 8th graduation ceremony at Taita Taveta University, Principal Secretary for Labour, Shadrack Mwadime, introduced four key initiatives intended to provide equal opportunities for all graduates in the job market. These initiatives, known as 'Kazi Majuu' (jobs abroad), 'Kazi Mtandaoni' (online jobs), 'Kazi Baharini' (blue economy jobs), and 'Kazi Kwa Ground' (local jobs), represent the government's multifaceted approach to tackling this critical national issue.
Mwadime assured the graduates that the current administration is devoted to supporting both current and future academicians in their pursuit of higher education. He defended the contentious 'Kazi Majuu' programme, countering brain drain criticisms by drawing parallels with South Korea's successful model of sending young people abroad to acquire skills and knowledge that later benefited their domestic economy.
'Brain drain, if you look at the flip side of it, the other side of the coin, is brain gain,' Mwadime stated, challenging traditional views on skilled migration. He cited South Korea's strategic export of human capital, which enabled the nation to compete globally with companies like Samsung and Hyundai.
Further, Mwadime related the strategy to historical events, referencing Africa's colonial exploitation and suggesting that the current plan serves as economic retaliation. He emphasized the potential of diaspora remittances as a tool for national development, revealing their growth from $3.8 billion three years ago to $4.95 billion last year, which is about five percent of the national budget.
For those not seeking overseas opportunities, Mwadime highlighted the government's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) policy, which supports online employment opportunities. He noted the success of many Kenyans in the digital work sphere and the potential of the blue economy, which remains largely untapped in sectors like pharmaceuticals and green energy.
Taita Taveta County Governor, Andrew Mwadime, also addressed the graduates, encouraging them to serve as ambassadors for their university and leverage regional resources in agriculture, livestock, and mining. He challenged the graduates to become agents of change, unlocking regional and national economic potential.