Media personality Jeff Koinange took time off his busy schedule to advise Kenyan youth on how to go to navigate the rampant unemployment situation in the country.
Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, the celebrated news anchor and host of JKLive on Citizen TV noted that unemployment had left Kenyan youth on the edge, posing a potential security threat to the country in the event of an angry revolution.
He, however, argued that despite the tough times, Kenyan youth could still mitigate the effects of joblessness on their own if they decided to take the challenge head-on.
"The world has changed. The internet has been a great equaliser and people are able to make money off of it because data bundles now cost less, and because people can now get virtually anything that they need on Google," he stated.
Koinange took issue with present-day youth (pejoratively termed Millenials), for failing to fully grasp the extent of hard work needed to achieve the desired success and an aversion to alternative career paths away from the glam of white-collar employment.
"People nowadays want things the easy way. They see some people driving flashy cars and say, 'I want to be like that guy'. It does not work that way. If you really want to earn a living, you have to do it the hard way. Hard work pays," he stated.
Jeff, who revealed he has been working for more than thirty years, credited his determination and work ethic for his success and advised that by recognising the time investment needed to be successful, youthful Kenyans would be better placed to deal with joblessness.
"Nothing good comes easy and nothing happens overnight. That is why I wake up at 4 a.m. every day to go to work. I don't do it for therapy. I do it because I need to earn a living. I am not a trust fund child. I may have a big name, but I cannot go to the bank and say I am so and so and I need a loan. They will not give it to me based on my name," he stated.
He urged Kenyan youth to rise and seize the opportunities available in their environment rather than waiting depending on aid that may not be forthcoming.
"The youth are the future, but the future is no longer in the future, it is right now. What are you doing to help your community, to pay rent, to pay the mortgage or a debt you owe someone? Are you waiting for handouts to help solve your problems? Such things only happen in movies.
"As long as you have got two hands, two feet, two eyes, two ears, and one mouth, get up and go for crying out loud. There are no free lunches out there. Hard work pays. Take that to the bank!" he concluded.
