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{
    "id": 830812,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/830812/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 235,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Starehe, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Charles Njagua",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13283,
        "legal_name": "Charles Kanyi Njagua",
        "slug": "charles-kanyi-njagua"
    },
    "content": "Employment Authority Act, 2016 on placement, internship and affirmative action provide for incentives that will enhance youth employment in various sectors of the economy. The labour sector is one of the foundations for national transformation in the Kenya Vision 2030. Labour is a critical factor of production without which the other factors of production shall not generate the required goods and services. The informal sector employment workforce represents about 82 per cent which if well tapped can accelerate the economic development of the country. As youth unemployment is declared a national disaster in Kenya, Starehe Constituency bears the brunt as it hosts the Central Business District (CBD) and industrial areas which are ideal destinations of rural-urban migrants in search of work. There are well over 5,000 mechanics who operate from Grogan on Kirinyaga Road and over 5,000 carpenters who operate from Gikomba Market and over 5,000 technicians and qualified artisans from Kariokor Market in the CBD. While the country boasts of different policies on youth, there is no defined policy for apprenticeship, apart from the National Training Authority Act Apprenticeship and Internship programme. A policy framework for enhancing formal and informal Jua kali apprenticeship systems is needed to facilitate acquisition of skills for self-reliance among the youth, therefore, tackling the challenge of unemployment. We appreciate the Government’s efforts at enhancing technical and vocational training through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. However, the programme is directed at benefiting students mostly from the age of 25 years. Therefore, most of the more senior artisans who got their skills from on-job instructions have moved on with their lives and are married and they cannot go back to the vocational training centres to acquire certificates. Apprentices acquire skills by observation and on-job instruction. There are plumbers, electricians, phone repair technicians and mechanics that have better skills than college-trained company technicians. They are, however, disadvantaged in the formal job market, despite having the skills due to lack of certificates by their counterparts who acquire training in formal institutions. There is need to bridge the gap between experience and available jobs, creating uniform, inclusive and competitive employment opportunities that provide decent income, quality work based on capabilities by certifying apprentices. I implore my colleagues, Members and the House, to support this Motion. As we are all aware, for our country to develop, we must invest in vocational skills among our youths as a way of making them job creators as opposed to job seekers. I have a strong belief that if implemented, this Motion will go a long way in tackling the challenge of unemployment and improving the country’s economy."
}