Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Alfred Mutua, has unveiled plans to connect one million youth to jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities annually.

Speaking on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, the CS indicated that the push to address the country’s unemployment would be addressed through the 1 Million Next Level Initiative.

Mutua touted the newly launched initiative to help bridge the unemployment gap in the country.

Besides launching the 1 Million Next Level Initiative, CS Mutua introduced the Kenya Skills Hub, a virtual one-stop platform designed to provide young people with access to crucial information on skills development and work-based learning.

Linking industry to education

In a push to better align education with industry needs, the CS also introduced the National Policy on Linking Industry to Education, Training, and Research.

The National Guidelines for Career Guidance and a new National Career Guidance Training Manual were also launched by the CS.

These resources aim to bridge the gap between academic training and practical job market requirements, providing young people with a roadmap to navigate their career journeys.

“Acknowledging the government’s role in addressing youth challenges, Mutua emphasized that young people, too, must take proactive steps toward their future. He encouraged them to be consistent, persistent, and organized and to seek out and acquire the skills that will enable them to thrive in today’s job market.

“Addressing the common hurdle of inexperience that many graduates face, he advised young job seekers to consider volunteering in their communities to build their CVs,” the statement from the Ministry of Labour read in part.

“The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted the importance of attitude and emotional intelligence in the pursuit of employment, advising the youth that even finding work is work in itself. To illustrate his point, he introduced Martha Kalui, a security guard at KICC whose proactive attitude had earned her an employment opportunity in Qatar,” the statement added.

Qatar jobs

The launch of the new initiative comes a day after the CS closed the Qatar 3,000 jobs application programme. According to the CS, 20,000 Kenyans applied for the opportunities, but many failed in practical assessments.

Following the massive failure, CS Mutua challenged job seekers to expand their skills to align with the current market demands.

Mutua also decried how some applicants showed up for the interviews, which resulted in them being turned away.