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"id": 213179,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Angwenyi",
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"legal_name": "Jimmy Nuru Ondieki Angwenyi",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Motion:- THAT, in view of the Government's goal and policy to create 500,000 jobs annually; aware of the various measures and reforms being instituted to address the challenges arising from the fact that a huge portion of our population is youthful, educated, jobless and restless; appreciating that the economy has been turned round onto a positive growth plan; noting that good governance measures so far undertaken have plugged leakages in revenue collection and public expenditures; recognizing that there is great need for additional manpower in various economic sectors to spur accelerated socio-economic development; further aware that the private sector has started posting increasing profits since 2003; and conscious of the July 18, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2591 contribution of the private sector in wealth creation and social responsibility, this House urges the Government to establish a special employment programme to be known as \"the New Deal\" in which a specific budgetary provision will be made so as to employ, at least, 250,000 people in the public sector annually and persuade the private sector to employ a similar number annually with a certain minimum number to be employed from each constituency in the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when we were struggling to get our Independence, the clarion call was, \"Uhuru na Kazi, \" that is, freedom with employment. Sure enough, when we attained our independence, most African citizens were offered employment opportunities. I remember, a few years after Independence, I graduated from intermediate school. I was offered three jobs, but I decided to proceed with my secondary school education. At the end of my four years in secondary school, I still was offered several jobs. I only took one of them, while I was waiting to join high school. When I completed my high school education, I was offered several jobs. At one time, actually, I worked for two employers. I worked for the Government and the East African Railways at that time. Also, I was employed before I completed my last month at the university. Job opportunities were available throughout the country, at various levels of education. Even those who did not go to school, were able to get jobs. Therefore, they could profitably use their energy to produce for this country. What has happened since that time? During the period when the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was the President of this Republic, we would from time to time get directives from the Office of the President saying: \"Employers should increase job opportunities in their organizations by ten per cent.\" It used to be called the ten per cent directive. As a result, the youth could get employment. But, at the demise of the late Mzee Kenyatta, job opportunities started decreasing. They dwindled to the extent that by the setting in of the Goldenberg scandal, there were no jobs any more. This is because Kshs138 billion was diverted to private use, under the Goldenberg saga. Since that time, employment opportunities are not available to our youth, who qualify from various institutions, including those who hold Doctor of Philosophy degrees (PhDs). As I speak, I have got three members of my constituency who have got PhDs, but they do not have jobs. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, during those days, again, if one did not want formal jobs, he could get land on which he could settle and produce for this country. But, today, there is no sufficient land. We have seen episodes of poor people, who are squatters on Government or other people's land, being evicted. We have seen the squalor in which people live in Kibera, Mathare and Mukuru Kwa Njenga. Three months ago, I carried out a survey. Every morning, I would rise up and go to park on Mbagathi Road. I would then interview some of the young people who were trekking to Industrial Area to look for casual jobs. Ninety nine per cent of them never got any jobs. They would trek back in the evening to their homes in Kibera after failing to get jobs. These are people who do not want to commit crimes. They instead want to fend for themselves. They are educated and energetic, but they cannot get a chance to employ their energy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, that survey informed me how our youth are suffering. When I went to the Kenya Bureau of Statistics, I was told that 60 per cent of our youth are unemployed. Therefore, the employment rate for our youth is 60 per cent. That translates to more than seven million people in this country who are idle and in distress. They cannot provide for themselves. Therefore, they easily convert into engaging in crime. No wonder, we do have the"
}