Race for elusive police jobs a worrying trend

Kenya: After Monday’s police recruitment drive, some 10,000 lucky youths aged between 18 and 30 were picked from the more than 100,000 applicants across the country.

And with every shout of joy and relief at securing an opportunity, there were even louder groans of desperation from the tens of thousands turned away. Some hopefuls woke up very early in the morning, did tough physical exercises and confidently walked into the recruitment venues.

The very young and naive believed their good performances in academics and physical tests like running, would automatically get them a chance. That is why disappointment and tears of frustrations were palpable among those who failed to make the cut. They went home depressed and sad that another chance at a decent shot at life had slipped through their fingers.

Police work is not the most high-paying or rewarding job in Kenya. But the thousands of jobless youths want something, anything that can afford them a decent meal and a roof over their heads. Some said they had tried more than thrice in the past either to join the police or the military.

Still, the recruitment was marred by claims of corruption, favouritism and ethnicity. The National Police Service Commission gave those who had complaints about the exercise seven days to present their grievances.

However, some were rejected on ridiculous excuses such as having brown-stained teeth, simple body scars and on account of their body sizes. Modern police work should not discriminate on such flimsy excuses.

Now, as it is with all vacancies announced either in the public or private sector, the response from the ballooning pool of jobless, but qualified, young Kenyans is always enormous.

The writing is on the wall for the Jubilee Government, the Opposition and the private sector that the Kenyan youth are desperate for an expansion of opportunities. They are hungering for avenues to earn an income to support themselves and their families.

Majority of them are honest, hardworking and educated, but they are jobless. They would gladly welcome any job, their degree and diploma qualifications notwithstanding. But as days turn into months, then years, they are aging and getting really desperate. Some are pushed up the wall and turn to crime, drugs and extremist groupings. Others readily become attack dogs for their political pay masters.

Kenyans must now sit up and face the growing number of frustrated and jobless youths. Data indicate some 500,000 youths join the job market every year. But the economy has remained static and cannot accommodate such numbers.

So, where did the rain start beating us? Where did we go wrong and what can be done urgently to reverse this trend?

 

Now that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are at the helm of Government, the heavy responsibility of turning around the fortunes of the millions of Kenyan youth is on their shoulders.

Indeed, they rode to power largely on the youth vote. They must now deliver the opportunities.

History, if not the same youthful voters, will judge them harshly if by the time they leave office these youths will still be waiting for the left-overs falling from their leaders’ dinner tables!

This is the time to make tough, even if unpopular, decisions to help spur the economy. In the past, unfair taxation, high cost of power, poor infrastructure, expensive communication systems, bad roads and unregulated imports have conspired to close down once thriving industries.

Selfish traders and uncaring politicians have also killed enterprises that used to employ thousands of Kenyans either directly or indirectly. It is time the Jubilee duo made a difference by reviving such industries.

The Opposition, led by CORD co-principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula, must also throw their weight in creating decent opportunities for Kenyan youth. They too promised to help improve the quality of life for young Kenyans.

Ultimately, this country’s future depends on the opportunities young Kenyans get now. Job creation should be everyone’s priority.