How shift in mindset can create jobs for graduates

As the increasing unemployment rate amongst young people continues soaring in the country, Principal Secretary (PS) MSME Development Susan Mang’eni said there was a need to prepare learners for the changing world of work from traditional employment models to job creation.

With the median age in the county being 17 years, PS Mang’eni said there was need for deliberate and targeted measures to be taken to prepare young people for self-employment including cultivation of entrepreneurial mindset.

Speaking on Friday in Embu where she graced the second edition of MSMEs Connect Forum and Exhibition at the University of Embu, the PS said they want students to be in a position to transform their career training into entrepreneurial ventures.

“We want our students not just to wait to be employed but to be able to leverage on acquired skills and knowledge to create businesses and also understand practical aspects of starting and running them,” she said.

Toward this, the PS said they want to start that conversation with the leadership of universities as well as TVETs and VTCs with a view of preparing students not just for jobs out there but also creating their own jobs through entrepreneurship.

“As Ministry, we  want to see how we can also be able to link them up with the interventions we have put in place such as Uwezo Fund and the newly initiated Wezesha Kazi Majuu for youths securing jobs abroad,” she said.

Additionally, the PS challenged students to make good use of their free time constructively in purposeful activities such as online work where many opportunities of income generation are available.

“These jobs offer flexibility that can assist students earn some income and also reduce idle time by adding value to their time and space,” she noted.

She noted that institutions such as Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) are ready to support young people with good ideas in areas of value addition or those able to come up into groups to start manufacturing ventures.

“We want our graduates not to wait for someone to employ them but start thinking about creating their own jobs,” she said.

The forum organized by Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) under the theme of “Driving Inclusive Growth Through MSME Empowerment” featured exhibitions by local entrepreneurs, business clinics and panel discussions on areas of finance, regulations, innovations and partnerships.

Some local entrepreneurs attributed their success to the Government support through MSEA that has not only trained them but also linked them with markets and seen their products certified by KEBS.