PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON HON. SEN. (DR.) ISAAC MWAURA, CBS AT KICC TOWER, ON MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER, 2024 AT 11.00 A.M

 KAZI KWA GROUND, KAZI MTANDAONI AND JOBS MAJUU 

This year’s Jamhuri day celebration, at Uhuru Gardens is anchored on the theme,‘ Jobs, Labour Migration, Entrepreneurship and Entertainment’. As part of the celebrations, the Government is hosting the Jamhuri National Job Fair that begun on December 5th and will run till Wednesday December 11th, 2024.

This job fair, has brought together various stakeholders, including government ministries, the private sector players, international recruitment agencies, educational institutions, and job seekers.

This evening, President William Ruto will host a townhall at the jobs fair to highlight the efforts the Kenya Kwanza government is making towards fulfilling the jobs dream as we committed in THE BETA PLAN.

Locally (Kazi kwa Ground): The Government targets to create 1, 200, 000 jobs annually between 2023 and 2027. The bulk of these jobs will be created through the formalization of the informal sector, with increased public investments in enabling infrastructure. This will also be achieved through: Establishment of Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks to promote local manufacturing. The manufacturing sector, which contributed 7.6% to GDP in 2023, provides direct employment to 363,000 people while indirectly supporting countless livelihoods.

Raising agricultural productivity. The subsidized fertilizer programme has seen productivity of food stuffs in the country go up. For instance; all the sugar factories are now operational, producing 84, 000 metric tonnes of sugar that are beyond the countries demand. Coffee exports are projected to increase from 51, 000 to 150, 000 MT by 2027. 

Seeking opportunities for jobs abroad (Kazi Majuu). Through Whole-of-Government approach, efforts are underway to address labor mobility management, including workers’ access to opportunities at the global level.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC), is one of the largest employers in the whole continent of Africa, currently managing a workforce of 410,258 teachers. This is against a register of over 805,000 registered teachers, with those not employed by the government engaged in private practice in private institutions and mission schools while over 300,000 qualified and registered teachers remain unemployed. Recognizing this surplus of qualified yet unemployed teachers, the Government is expanding international labor opportunities for Kenyan educators.

Currently, Kenyan teachers are being considered for placement in 17 countries, with high demand for our teachers in the United States, Ireland, Germany, SouthAfrica, Thailand, and other nations. In July this year, the Prime Cabinet Secretary,

Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, flagged off the first cohort of Kenyan teachers to take up teaching roles in U.S. district schools, marking a significant step in our teacher mobility initiative.

Already, 105, 367 Kenyans have secured opportunities in the professional, skilled and unskilled sectors; in Canada, Australia, Bahrain, Oman, the UnitedKingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the Federal Republic of Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. These positions are in the health, agriculture, engineering, financial systems, ICT and computer science among other sectors.

Additionally, the National Employment Authority (NEA), which is mandated to enhance access to employment by the youth, minorities and marginalized groups, has a roll of over 560,000 job openings for qualified Kenyans locally and internationally.

COFFEE SECTOR

The Government is committed to revitalizing the coffee sector to benefit farmers and secure Kenya’s place as a global leader in coffee production. Recognizing the challenges that have hindered the industry’s growth, the Kenya Kwanza Government has introduced transformative measures to address long-standing issues, empowering farmers and creating a foundation for sustainable development.

At the heart of these reforms is ensuring that farmers receive the greatest value for their efforts. To achieve this, direct payments have been introduced, ensuring farmers are paid swiftly and transparently via their personal bank accounts or mobile wallets. This eliminates delays that have historically burdened farmers.

Additionally, the government has reduced cooperative charges to a maximum of 20% of coffee earnings for services such as processing and transport, significantly lowering production costs for farmers. 

The government warmly invites all Kenyans to participate in the Jamhuri Job Fair ,a unique opportunity to explore career options, connect with potential Employers.

Locally (Kazi Kwa Ground), Jobs Abroad (Kazi Majuu), as well as connection to Online Jobs (Kazi Mtandaoni) and gain valuable insights for professional growth. Together, let's build a stronger, more empowered workforce for a brighter

future.

Kenya itainuka,

Kenya itasimama,

Kenya itanawiri,

kwa Umoja na Uzalendo.