Uhuru announces 100,000 jobs for the youth

President Uhuru Kenyatta inspects Guard of Honour outside Parliament. [PSCU]

President Uhuru Kenyatta has stated that the government will create 100,000 jobs for the youth.

Speaking during the State of the Nation Address on Thursday at Parliament, the Head of State said that the Economic Stimulus Package would create a number of opportunities in a bid to boost lives following the disruption caused by Covid-19.

“The major objective of the Economic Stimulus Programme was to return the economy to the growth trajectory it was on pre-Corona by increasing demand for local goods and services, cushioning vulnerable Kenyans, securing household food security for the poor, and creating employment,” he said.

The President added that the recovery programme will revamp several sectors by hiring 5,000 health workers and 11,000 interns. The programme will further seek to create 100,000 job opportunities for the youth.

Speaking on his Big Four Agenda plan, the President stated that there was remarkable progress as far as food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and affordable healthcare are concerned.

The President said that the Covid-19 pandemic began against the backdrop of a steady economic growth rate of 5.4 per cent in 2019 but major economic sectors recorded impressive growth.

“When it became apparent that the COVID-19 Pandemic threatened to erode the significant economic gains we had made in 2019 and the preceding years; on 25th March 2020, I, announced State interventions to cushion Kenyans against adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Universal Health Care

The Head of State also emphasised the importance of the Universal Health Coverage and expressed his elation at the success of the pilot programme so far in a number of counties including; Nyeri, Machakos, Kisumu and Isiolo.

“I am pleased to report to you that the pilot programme for Universal Health Care was successfully implemented, and out of it we have isolated critical learning points that have informed enhancements to my administration’s health policy priorities going forward,” he remarked.

The President said it is sad that some Kenyans sell property to settle medical bills, stating that successful implementation of the Universal Health Coverage scheme will go a long way in solving this problem, adding that the government will also reform the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Mental Illness

He also noted that there had been an increase in cases of mental illness across the country which have caused national distress and anguish within families.

The President announced that he had established an office in the Ministry of Health tasked with spearheading the national response to mental illness.

To institutionalise this, President Kenyatta issued an Executive Order establishing an ultra-modern national mental health hospital and elevated Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital into a semi-autonomous mental hospital.