{"id":8623,"date":"2023-05-04T10:09:29","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T10:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qiraatafrican.com\/en\/?p=8623"},"modified":"2024-04-18T13:51:57","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T13:51:57","slug":"why-african-youths-should-embrace-emerging-opportunities-gain-skills-and-tap-into-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qiraatafrican.com\/en\/8623\/why-african-youths-should-embrace-emerging-opportunities-gain-skills-and-tap-into-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Why African youths should embrace emerging opportunities, gain skills, and tap into technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kenyan youths have been used by politicians for a long time to advance political interests, the recent demonstrations<\/a> notwithstanding. The big and mind-boggling question is, What makes the youth readily available whenever those in power, as recently witnessed<\/a> in Kenya and South Africa, need them? What issues bedevil young people, and is it time they took charge of their economic and political future?<\/p>\n

Whereas the government of the day must be held to account due to economic mockeries such as the nomination<\/a> of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries, contrary to the public service commission recommendation, and wastage of public resources through unwarranted<\/a> and exaggerated expenditure, youths need to rethink their economic, political, and social well-being.<\/p>\n

Beginning with the basics<\/p>\n

Age is not just a number; it is important to understand who a young person is to put the issues at hand into perspective concerning the ability, challenges, and opportunities that youths can tap into to turn around their current predicament.<\/p>\n

According to Article 260 of the Kenyan Constitution, a youth is an individual who has attained<\/a> the age of 18 but has not attained the age of 35 years. The African Union, in its youth charter, defines<\/a> youth as an individual between 15 and 35 years old, while the UN confines<\/a> the youth age to between 15 and 24 years.<\/p>\n

Issues affecting Africa’s youth: a case for Kenya<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unemployment is the main challenge Kenyan youths face. Youths in Kenya form the highest percentage of the unemployed, at a rate of 67%, according to the Federation of Kenya Employers<\/a>. In addition, over one million youths join the labour market without proper skills. On a global scale, over one billion people will enter<\/a> the global market and face irregular and informal employment in the next decade.<\/p>\n

The high cost of living and inability to afford quality healthcare, along with joblessness, stood out as the main concerns for Kenyans, according to an Infotrack poll conducted<\/a> at the end of 2022. The high cost of living and lack of quality healthcare would weigh heavily on unemployed youth.<\/p>\n

Is Kenya making progress in addressing the challenges facing youths?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A youth development policy (2019) is in place to promote<\/a> holistic empowerment and participation of the youth in socio-economic and political development for themselves, the country, and the future.<\/p>\n

The policy highlights additional challenges affecting youth, such as insufficient socio-economic support, a lack of employable skills, drug and substance abuse, and limited access to ICT, especially for those in rural areas.<\/p>\n

The World Bank has previously offered support<\/a> to Kenya through the Youth Employment and Opportunities project, with a focus on improving youth employability through capacity building and job creation initiatives. However, the impact has yet to be realised<\/a> and felt on a significant scale.<\/p>\n

Vision 2030 also highlights other interventions, including 30% youth representation in public service and appointments, establishing youth empowerment centres in every constituency, establishing 30 regional stadiums, and a one billion tree planting campaign that would engage the youth in protecting forest cover. The majority of these aspirations are just on paper, with slow implementation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is the way out for Kenyan youths?<\/strong><\/p>\n