Eldoret Municipality Board Chair, Julius Kitur, on Saturday, July 22, proposed a monthly stipend for unemployed individuals in Uasin Gishu County as a way of curbing unrest in the country.
The Uasin Gishu official noted that jobless Kenyans under the age of 45 years should receive a Ksh 15,000 stipend every month.
The unemployment rate has continued to surge in the country as hard economic times hit. Increased taxes have also propelled unrest among unemployed youths.
Kitur noted that the regular stipend will enable the unemployed Kenyans to lead a sustainable life and calm the discontent amidst anti-government protests and the high cost of living.
He also added that those in charge of projects planned by the government should give priority to youth in order to strengthen the economy.
“The President talked about cottage industries and as he is pursuing that, he must have a team that is thinking about cottage industries and industrial parks and what we are going to get and ensure it is managed well and youth get jobs,” Kitur stated.
The board chair further dismissed the increment of salaries for members of parliament and other public servants holding higher ranks in the government. He advocated for a reduction of the public servants’ salary proposing that a standard rate of Ksh 500,000 for MPs was enough.
“You find someone who is earning above Ksh1.5 million and there is someone who is not earning anything. We must leave the greed of adding more to our MPs who are asking for more while their voters at home have nothing,” He noted.
On retirement, Kitur divulged that the retirement age should be 50 years adding that there should be a cycle of young people joining the job market. This, Kitur asserts, will help curb the unemployment rate in the country.
The ongoing anti-government protests have been stamped on addressing the high cost of living and the newly introduced taxes. The unrest among unemployed youth who are unable to meet the high taxes has consequently led to them actively participating in the demonstrations.
The frequent demonstrations, which Kitur argues can be reduced by the introduction of the stipend, have led to Ksh3 billion daily losses according to Kenya Private Sector Alliance. The losses are attributed to looting, destruction and damage of property during the nationwide protests.
A recent data from Statista published on June 1, 2023, shows that the unemployment rate in Kenya stands at 5.5 per cent. This is impacted by the inflation rate and high cost of living that has engulfed the country.
On a brighter note, President William Ruto on June 18, cracked bilateral agreements with Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and Barbados aimed at creating 1 million jobs for Kenyan youth. The Head of State explained that this was part of his campaign promise to end joblessness among the youth.
