Government must empower the youth to rid nation of ‘burden’

Franklin Roosevelt said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth but we can build our youth for the future”.

The youth, the biggest demographic in Kenya, has become a burden to the country. The majority of the youth are jobless and, therefore, economically dependent on their parents, guardians and relatives.

Even after completing school, most of the young people cannot afford three meals per day, leave alone a roof over their heads.

The so-called ‘youth agenda’, which aims at empowering the young people, has myriad challenges.

The Commission for University Education recently revealed that 133 degree courses being taught in local universities are not approved, putting into doubt the rationale of pursuing them even after they are given the green light as they are already tainted.

When Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed recently warned that Helb defaulters will be tracked by police officers to clear the large debt, the unemployed university graduate was thrown in panic.

With the high rate of unemployment, the graduates end up doing odd jobs that can barely feed them; how can they repay the study loans?

The government should ensure that graduates join paid internships. That will give them mentorship and necessary training in their career paths.

If done correctly, the youth will have the two-year experience demanded by employers. This will also end frustration among the graduates.

Besides, the stipend earned will cater for their basic needs.

The private sector should hire graduate trainees and stop the preference of untrained ‘talented’ employees over professionals.

The United States and the United Kingdom provide their citizens with unemployment and welfare benefits as a compliment for unemployed and low-wage workers under 25 to shield them.

The National Youth Council should encourage county executive committees to increase the youth budget in counties to meet the high demand for youth programmes.

The government should also change the youth’s attitude towards work by making agriculture more attractive through use of new technologies, ensure menial jobs are paid better and encourage entrepreneurship by giving the youth seed capital.

In addition, youth should embrace new media as a platform to grow and nurture talents and do online business.

TVET programmes should match the needs of the market rather than the social demands.

No youth group should be alienated. The most affected include youth in marriage, in prison, with HIV, living with disability, unemployed, uneducated and those suffering alcoholism and drug abuse.

Youth empowerment can lead to unprecedented social and economic benefits, including reduction in the crime rate.