By Alex Maina
Walking through Kamkunji in Soy Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County, many young men and women are sitting by the roadside. The number is growing. These young people want to work, but jobs are not available. Most worked before under the Affordable Housing program in Kapsuswa, Soy Constituency. But now, since the houses are finished, the work has ended.
Jeremiah, one of the youth, is saying, “Being part of the affordable housing work was helping, but now that the project is done, there is no work for us. I am hoping the government will create permanent jobs so that we get a steady income and build our futures.”
Annah added, “I am thankful for the job during the housing project because it helped me support myself and my child for a while. But now, after the work is gone. Life is becoming hard, and worries about survival are growing. I, too, am hoping the government will create long-term jobs to help people like me. Even if contracts are short-term like affordable housing, they should be longer and more frequent so that we, the people, keep working and growing.”
These two are just examples. Many others who also worked under the KAZI Mtaani initiative who are now without steady work. This leaves them feeling lost and without hope.
Some are even turning to stealing because they have no way to survive. This is not to say stealing is right, but it shows how desperate people are when they have no jobs or income.
Short-term contracts are helpful, and they are appreciated. But what is really needed is job security for the future. Even short-term jobs should not have long breaks between them. They must be easy to find and keep people working. A nation with working people is a strong and successful nation.
The future of Kamkunji and the whole country depends on how the youth are treated today. When young people are given real, steady jobs, strong families and communities grow. It is time to stop quick fixes and start making lasting changes that help young people live better lives. That is how a nation grows and succeeds.
