The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has weighed in on the government's decision to give Ksh50,000 to the youth through the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA).
In a statement on Thursday, October 9, the institution raised concerns over the surging level of unemployment in the country, particularly in the engineering sector.
IEK noted that while the government's decision to roll out the NYOTA programme was a good idea, it was not sufficient to address the overwhelming level of unemployment in the country.
"While the NYOTA program targets artisans, we are aware of millions of unemployed graduate engineers, engineering technologists and technicians. We call upon the government to address their plight, too," the engineers stated.
The engineers body challenged the government to absorb at least 10,000 engineers as one of the practical examples of addressing the unemployment menace in Kenya.
IEK insisted that if properly implemented, NYOTA can reduce inequality, stimulate local economies, and position Kenya as a leader in sustainable development.
In its presser, the engineering institution also raised an alarm over the handing over of key government infrastructure projects to foreigners and the sidelining of local engineers.
According to IEK, most engineering jobs were being given to foreigners who had begun importing electricians, plumbers and machine operators despite the availability of such expertise in Kenya.
"These tradespeople are available in Kenya. We must create opportunities for them. Kenya needs to stick to long-term planning and make sure the goals are achieved," the engineers affirmed.
Meanwhile, NYOTA is a five-year transformative agenda by the government, funded by the World Bank and which aims to empower youth by addressing unemployment, income insecurity, and limited savings.
The Ksh5 billion programme will be formally launched by President William Ruto on October 29 in Kakamega County. It seeks to provide start-up grants and training for youth aged between 18 and 29 years.
In particular, the initiative seeks to assist the neglected segment of society, especially those who did not progress beyond primary or secondary school.
So far, the government has set the allocation at 70 youths per ward across the country’s 1,450 wards, a formula aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of monetary assistance.
