60,000 apply for 560 Judiciary jobs

Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya Hon. Justice Martha Koome. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NMG

By SAM KIPLAGAT
More by this Author

Summary

• Chief Justice Martha Koome said in a statement the application window would remain open for another five days, starting Monday.
• Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that half of jobless Kenyans have given up looking for work.
• The majority of those who have given up on employment are aged between 20 and 24 at 363,018, followed by 25- to 29-year-olds at 232,146.

The Judiciary is encouraging more jobs seekers to apply for positions, including drivers and court assistants, despite attracting 60,000 applications for the available 560 slots, highlighting the job crisis in the country.

Chief Justice Martha Koome said in a statement the application window would remain open for another five days, starting Monday. The CJ, who is the chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), said there was a possibility that potential candidates were not able to access the application portal due to high traffic and congestion in the system.

“Consequently, the Commission has resolved to extend the application window to mitigate against these challenges and to give every Kenyan a fair opportunity to be considered for these positions,” said Justice Koome.

The JSC had advertised 500 positions for court assistants, 30 drivers, one senior public affairs & corporate communications officer, two senior clerks, 10 charge hands, one senior civil engineer, one senior electrical engineer, one senior draughtsman and four superintendents of works.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that half of jobless Kenyans have given up looking for work, disheartened by reduced opportunities in a tough economy that has seen many businesses downsize operations in a bid to survive.

The KNBS data covering the quarter ended March 2021 shows that 1.23 million out of the total of 2.49 million jobless Kenyans aged between 15 and 64 — and who qualify for the labour force — were not actively looking for employment.

The majority of those who have given up on employment are aged between 20 and 24 at 363,018, followed by 25- to 29-year-olds at 232,146.

The 20-24-year-old demographic consists mostly of fresh graduates whose job-seeking efforts are hurt by lack of experience.

[email protected]