Reducing unemployment begins with the mindset

Each year, whenever the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) announce the nationwide recruitment of officers of different ranks, Kenyans, more-so those seeking employment, never disappoint. The turnout is always huge, with men and women full of hope of securing jobs in this competitive category. At different recruitment centres countrywide, long queues of desperate job-seeking Kenyans makes you wonder: will the unemployment crisis ever end in Kenya?
However, one may be tempted to ask, who is to blame for such scenarios?  Sadly, this trend continues to  be witnessed every year, with many youths and Kenyans in general, continuing to hunt for formal jobs, without success. Is it our education system, for example, that has shaped us in a way to only think that lucrative and real jobs exist, only in the formal sector? Could it be our attitude towards employment sectors, that continue to render most of us jobless, yet there exists a huge potential, in the informal sector, that actually employs more than even the formal sector?

The recently concluded KDF recruitment exercise, was just a replica, of past enrolments. At one recruitment centre, it was estimated that over seven thousand youths showed up for a single exercise. Guess what happened?Majority of them were left out, because of the 'tough' qualifications, that automatically sidelined them, whether they liked it or not. Of course many were engulfed by frustrations, when their journey to joining the army, was halted. Majority missed the few slots, because of flat feet, being average or medium in height, some because of weight, among other qualifications. Looking at the criteria used, I sympathised with many of them: for instance, what were they to do with their flat feet, for them to qualify for that recruitment? The qualifications were just insane, let alone the training that awaits the few shortlisted.

However, something that left me perplexed, amidst the recruits frustrations was, when will Kenyans ever learn from such experiences. Why would one continue to go for the afore-mentioned exercise five or six times, yet there are other areas tht one can actually explore and get employed? Needless to say, Kenyans, especially those seeking employment, need to shift gears, and change their perspective on how they perceive employment and for once, venture fully into the informal sector. The Kenya Defence Forces recruitment exercise, is just but a representation of how bad the situation is for graduates and anyone else with skills, but has a fixed mindset, of securing a well paying job, in the formal sector. 
According to the economic survey 2023 from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the informal sector accounts for 82.9% of employment, while the formal sector accounts for only 17.1%. This is a clear indication of how minimal the chances are, of being employed in the formal sector.

Instead of youths sitting and waiting for their ‘dream’ jobs, why can’t they enroll in short-term courses that can enable them to secure jobs in the informal sector? Construction industry for instance, offers more than just masonry. This sector alone has a pool of jobs, that one can choose to focus on. Construction isn't complete without a plumber, a welder, and even a painter.Why can’t jobless youths, who seem to dream so big of being in the army, join even the agricultural sector? To mention but a few, areas such as cybersecurity, and online related jobs, possess great opportunities for both semi and skilled people. 

Why are Kenyans, failing to take advantage of these areas, instead of just being immersed into the idea of getting employed? In addition, can we also think of coming up with innovative ideas that could potentially attract funding from well-wishers and even be a source of employment other Kenyans? Of course, there are Kenyans, who have already aligned themselves and are doing great, especially in the private sector, but more and more Kenyans need to join them. Let’s not forget that even the Kenya Defence Forces, that majority of Kenyans, are always eager to join, require skills. This is the 21st century, where combating terrorism is more than just gunning down a terrorist. Combating terrorism has moved beyond what most recruits attribute to being masculine and fit, but more into digital skills, with some of them, being readily available in the informal sector.  

Moreover, the president has been on record, often expressing his plans to curb unemployment crisis among Kenyans. His domestic measures are all over the public domain, in addition to him travelling overseas, to seek for investors, as well as signing bilateral labor agreements with countries like Germany, the USA, and Canada. Majority of these jobs, clearly fall under the informal sector, why can’t youths and jobless Kenyans in particular, start embracing this sector back at home, even before flying out? This are timely measures and a chance for Kenyans to apply for even professional jobs, as opposed to the normal domestic jobs outside Kenya, now that the formal sector in the country,  continue to be choked by a large labour force. In summary, shifting our mindset and perception about employment sectors, will be a game-changer, towards solving unemployment menace, in the country.