Thousands of job seekers block Nairobi streets [Photos]

janet ndila

May 26, 2018 3:25 PM

Government on the spot as Sarova Stanley recruitment drive exposes the unemployment crisis in Kenya

Kenya’s unemployment crisis was exposed on Saturday morning as tens of thousands of job seekers braved the early morning chilly weather and literally took over some streets.

From as early as 5 am, winding queues stretching more than a kilometer long were witnessed as unemployed Kenyans sought to secure employment with Sarova Stanley hotel that had announced vacancies in various departments.

If the scenes witnessed are anything to go by, then the unemployment crisis in the country has reached unprecedented levels and casts doubts on government’s records of 2018 that only 7 million Kenyans are unemployed.

A recent UN report disclosed that Kenya has the highest unemployment rates in Eastern Africa and is equal to the unemployment rates in Ethiopia and Rwanda combined. (Ethiopia has a population of about 83 Million)

Multiple applicants with impressive academic qualifications expressed frustrations at the government for doing little to improve the situation.

This comes in the wake of multi-billion scandals that could have been channeled to more meaningful use to create employment to millions of unemployed Kenyans.

The Jubilee administration had also promised to create employment opportunities to millions of unemployed Kenyans facing tough economic times.

However, going by what was witnessed during the open day recruitment drive at Sarova Stanley, little or no progress has been made.

In recent times, Kenyans with impressive qualifications have gone to extreme lengths to secure with some mounting posters along traffic in a bid to catch the attention of potential employers.

Analysts have also blamed the unemployment crisis for a spike in crime as desperate unemployed youths are left with limited options to provide for their needs.

janet ndila