On Saturday, the Central Organisation for Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, disclosed methods the government was using to stay ahead of anti-government protests organized by young Kenyans.
Speaking in Kisumu, Atwoli mentioned that he had previously recommended to President William Ruto that all parastatals and ministries should ensure that 10 per cent of their employees are youth.
Atwoli clarified that his suggestion aimed to address the escalating unemployment rate, a key issue highlighted in the ongoing protests. He pointed out that this approach was similar to an initiative by the late President Jomo Kenyatta in 1972, which aimed to employ more skilled young Kenyans.
Atwoli also suggested merging some counties, contending that a major concern for young Kenyans was the substantial amount of money spent on devolved units.
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He highlighted that counties were among the state institutions consuming a large portion of the national government’s revenue, thus limiting funds available for development. He urged the president to ensure efficient use of taxpayers’ money nationwide.
“Gen Zs have talked about counties, counties do not have money and there are so many. So we can look into ways into bringing some of these counties together, the way Gen Zs are suggesting,” he stated.
Protests began on June 28, with young Kenyans opposing the current regime due to high corruption rates, increased taxes, and significant unemployment. A survey by Infotrak, released on July 18, indicated that unemployment and the high cost of living were the primary reasons driving Gen Zs to protest.
Kenyans expressed that the economic situation had become unbearable, especially for the millions of young graduates still seeking jobs. In response to the protests, several significant actions took place, including the dismissal of all cabinet secretaries and the suspension of non-essential travel.
Recently, President Ruto announced the new members of the cabinet, which included some former cabinet members and individuals from the opposition. During his campaign, President Ruto had pledged to create millions of jobs for both skilled and unskilled youth.
