KNBS Says Number Of Jobless Kenyans Is 2.97 Million: Is This True?

According to the latest stats released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the number of Kenyans without jobs increased to more than 2.97 million in the quarter to December but the reality on the ground shows the numbers might be more than the ones being quoted.

According to KNBS, the number of jobless persons grew 2.94 percent from 2.89 million in September, a pointer that the economy shed over 80,000 jobs in the three months after the August 9 General Elections, hitting hard on Kenya’s young population.

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The stats show that more than half of Kenyans without jobs or 1.54 million people were between 20 and 29 years, underlining the growing crisis of youth unemployment. The majority have college degrees in various fields that aren’t hiring anyone.

The fact that companies and government agencies are not hiring at the moment is a major blow to job seekers, especially the more than one million young people who graduate from colleges and secondary schools in search of low-cadre positions like clerks.

“The government has failed to create an enabling environment for job creation. For example, the high cost of doing business in Kenya, coupled with the country’s inadequate infrastructure, has deterred many potential investors from setting up businesses in the country,” writes Steve Biko Wafula.

Kenyans aged between 40 and 44 witnessed the highest growth in joblessness, with the number unemployed growing by half, or 58,702, in the quarter to 175,578 persons, according to KNBS. The unemployed aged 35 and 39 increased by a fifth to 234,698 persons in the review period.

They were followed by unemployed youth aged between 20 and 24 whose number grew 13.63 percent to 1,004,755 in the quarter. Joblessness among those aged between 30 to 34 years increased 4.93 percent quarter-on-quarter to 417,493 persons.

“The government has not done enough to address these issues, making it difficult for businesses to thrive, which has ultimately led to limited job creation. Not to mention the scary tax code that is driving away potential job creators,” opines Steve Biko, the CEO of Hidalgo Group of Companies.

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