Atwoli proposes radical employment initiative for public and private sectors

Central Organization of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli. [Standard, File]

Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli wants the public and private sectors to implement a radical hiring plan to help address the country's high unemployment.

 The veteran trade unionist proposes that parastatals and ministries employ 10 per cent of their total workforce, a move he asserts would come in handy to President William Ruto, who is desperate to quell growing dissent from youthful Kenyans.

In a statement, Atwoli highlighted the success of the employment initiative that founding President Jomo Kenyatta implemented in 1972 to avail employment opportunities to the youth.

 "This visionary policy significantly alleviated unemployment and contributed to economic stability," said the Cotu boss.

 During last May's Labour Day celebrations, Atwoli had fronted the proposal to Ruto, who has recently faced protests from Generation Zs and Millennials over several issues, including the lack of opportunity.

 "Kenya is currently facing an unemployment crisis, particularly among the youth, and, therefore, the revival of the 10 per cent employment mandate would provide immediate job opportunities and reduce the number of jobless citizens," Atwoli added.

 "Further, this will foster economic stability and growth which have a resultant effect on the political stability of the country considering the fact that high unemployment rates contribute to social unrest and dissatisfaction."

 Ruto recently announced that the government would not hire new employees as part of austerity measures it was implementing under growing pressure. The move contradicted the push for employment among many young Kenyans, who lament being educated but jobless.

 Gen Zs and Millennials have also stood in solidarity with intern doctors and junior secondary school teachers, who they insist must be employed with fitting terms.

 Such calls featured in a list of demands to the Head of State, which directed the scrapping and defunding of unnecessary offices in favour of more opportunities for the youth, who form 70 per cent of Kenya's population and bear the brunt of unemployment.

 President Ruto rode on the promise of creating jobs for young Kenyans, a pledge many of them now consider broken.