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Job market in Kenya 2mo
Is one entitled for a leave encashment if you dont work on saturdays,

Job market in Kenya

 1y

Hello,
How many days of paid leave do you have per year?
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Job market in Kenya

 3y
Are you currently employed?
1042 votes
5   

  • Lavenda Otieno

    2mo

    No, just finished my bachelor of Human Resource Management awaiting graduation in December but looking for a place I can gain practical experience and... exposure.
     more

  • Alphaeus Thoya

    2mo

    No

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Job market in Kenya

 2y
What is the minimum monthly salary that you consider to be enough for living in Kenya for one person?
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HARRISON OGANYO
Job market in Kenya 1y

.
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Job market in Kenya

 2y

Government Calls on Business Community to Explore Blue Economy


NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 22 - The business community has been encouraged to explore the available opportunities in Blue Economy, a sector where resources have not been fully exploited.

The Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs Shadrack Mwadime said the sector has opportunities in the cruise and carrier ships since 90 percent of transportation of goods takes place in the... waters.

Mwadime said countries where the economy has expanded through the exploitation of resources were able to develop fast, and urged businesses investing in real estate to seize the opportunity existing in the maritime industry.

"As a country we can exploit the shipping industry to address wealth creation and the unemployment rate which is so high by creating employment for the youth who constitute 75 percent of our population," said Mwadime.

The PS made the remarks when he received the Managing Director of CMA CGM Company Jean Baptiste Longin who had paid him a courtesy call at his office at NSSF building.

The beneficiaries of the training included five Deck Cadets namely Amina Mwaurinda, Linda Wagumbe, Mwijaka Maalim, Said Mohammed and Damaris Mwangi and Earnest Gachangu an Engine Cadet.

PS Mwadime thanked the company for supporting and developing the human resource capacity in the maritime sector by establishing linkages with industry players to enhance placement and advancement of graduates of Bandari Maritime Authority and providing them with the required sea time experience.

Mwadime at the same time urged the company to consider employing graduates from Kenya and to increase the number of the graduates they train to 25 to allow more to be absorbed in the sector.

He announced that this year, the country will pick at least 12 of the very best from Bandari Maritime Academy for the same training.

"We are also appealing to other shipping companies to emulate what CMA CGM has done and give sea time experience and subsequent employment to our graduates as we continue to provide highly skilled labour to the market," said the PS.

He at the same time urged shipping companies to absorb graduates from the local training institutions among them Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya and all Technical, Vocational, Education and Training colleges and institutions providing training maritime courses.

The PS said if more companies venture into the sector it will increase opportunities for the country's seafarers to work in all parts of the world, and appealed to international shipping companies to employ Kenyan graduates.

"We are pursuing partnerships with other International bodies like the World Maritime University and the Danish Ship Owners Association to offer scholarships to graduates to pursue advanced courses," said Mwadime.

He assured that the State Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs will continue to cooperate with various stakeholders to harness the potential of the maritime sector, through developing policies and human resource capacity to encourage job opportunities which will benefit the economy.

The PS also called upon graduates to maintain a high standard of discipline, professionalism and integrity once on board, as well as avoid activities or conduct that would taint the image of the country and compromise the job market for placement and advancement of future graduates in the sector.

Mwadime said the government has plans of converting the Bandari Maritime Academy to a centre of excellence in the region.

"We have requested the National Treasury to give us funds to expand the academy in our five year plan so that it can absorb more students. Once resources are set aside, it will come in tranches in the next 5 years," said the PS adding that the government has already recruited 14 lecturers and will add 26 more.

He said the government also has plans to revamp the Kenya National Shipping Line to enable it raise revenue, of which the money raised can also be used to procure ships.

In his remarks, Mr. Jean Baptiste Longin said the company will continue to support, motivate and send more Kenyans abroad for training on vessels.

He said the six cadets they have trained abroad did a great job where they were attached describing it t a success to the management of the company.

"The six cadets have brought a lot of satisfaction, they have raised the Kenyan flag and made the country proud," said Longin.

The State Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs is mandated with the responsibility of promoting maritime and shipping industry and maritime transport management, as well as promoting and facilitating placement of Kenyans in the global maritime market among others. more
2   

BEYOND BUSINESS
Job market in Kenya 2y

HI

Job market in Kenya

 2y

Kericho administration to support agriculture for jobless youths


BURETI, Kenya, Jan 14 - The County government of Kericho is working on modalities to support local jobless youth with capital to venture into agribusiness enterprises.

The county governor Dr. Eric Mutai said that the region is endowed with great agribusiness potential, hence bringing the youths on board would increase small holder production.

Consequently, this would have a ripple effect on... household incomes, now that unemployment remains a serious challenge countrywide.

"We know there is a huge problem of unemployment in our county and Kenya at large. The only way to go is through agriculture. I propose we give some of our unemployed youths capital to do agribusiness and bring about the much anticipated economic growth in the county," said Dr. Mutai.

Addressing residents during the opening of the Kericho County Agricultural exhibition held at Chelilis Primary School Thursday, the governor said agriculture is the key to unlocking the local economic growth.

"As a county government, in order to change the economy of our people, we must work on some budget for agriculture and trade, because these are the key departments that can turn around the lives of our people," he said.

The governor also identified horticulture, pyrethrum and coffee as potential agribusiness ventures, adding that youths will be supported with capital and markets for their agricultural products.

"We will support our youths with capital so that we put them into groups to do cultivation of F1 tomatoes, Hass avocados, pyrethrum as well as coffee, and we also look for markets for them. This will turn around the lives of our youths and their families. We shall create people who are self-employed in agriculture," he said.

Meanwhile, the county government has so far distributed tea, pyrethrum and coffee seedlings to over 2,000 farmers in the area, amid plans to incorporate more farmers.

"We have distributed 500 tea seedlings to 60 households, in Londiani sub-county, while some other farmers have also benefited from pyrethrum and coffee seedlings," he said.

During the occasion, more than 20 exhibitors showcased their best, with the event bringing together farmers, stakeholders, agricultural promoters and various non-governmental organizations in the sector across the county.

The two-day exhibition themed, Promoting Technologies, Innovations and Market Linkages in Agricultural Sector was organized by the county government of Kericho in conjunction with other key stakeholders in the county agricultural sector. more
2   

Job market in Kenya

 2y

Kericho administration to support agriculture for jobless youths


BURETI, Kenya, Jan 14 - The County government of Kericho is working on modalities to support local jobless youth with capital to venture into agribusiness enterprises.

The county governor Dr. Eric Mutai said that the region is endowed with great agribusiness potential, hence bringing the youths on board would increase small holder production.

Consequently, this would have a ripple effect on... household incomes, now that unemployment remains a serious challenge countrywide.

"We know there is a huge problem of unemployment in our county and Kenya at large. The only way to go is through agriculture. I propose we give some of our unemployed youths capital to do agribusiness and bring about the much anticipated economic growth in the county," said Dr. Mutai.

Addressing residents during the opening of the Kericho County Agricultural exhibition held at Chelilis Primary School Thursday, the governor said agriculture is the key to unlocking the local economic growth.

"As a county government, in order to change the economy of our people, we must work on some budget for agriculture and trade, because these are the key departments that can turn around the lives of our people," he said.

The governor also identified horticulture, pyrethrum and coffee as potential agribusiness ventures, adding that youths will be supported with capital and markets for their agricultural products.

"We will support our youths with capital so that we put them into groups to do cultivation of F1 tomatoes, Hass avocados, pyrethrum as well as coffee, and we also look for markets for them. This will turn around the lives of our youths and their families. We shall create people who are self-employed in agriculture," he said.

Meanwhile, the county government has so far distributed tea, pyrethrum and coffee seedlings to over 2,000 farmers in the area, amid plans to incorporate more farmers.

"We have distributed 500 tea seedlings to 60 households, in Londiani sub-county, while some other farmers have also benefited from pyrethrum and coffee seedlings," he said.

During the occasion, more than 20 exhibitors showcased their best, with the event bringing together farmers, stakeholders, agricultural promoters and various non-governmental organizations in the sector across the county.

The two-day exhibition themed, Promoting Technologies, Innovations and Market Linkages in Agricultural Sector was organized by the county government of Kericho in conjunction with other key stakeholders in the county agricultural sector. more
2   

Job market in Kenya

 2y

Arrests of individuals allegedly linked to State Capture welcomed - Cabinet


4. Kenya State Visit

4.1. Cabinet welcomed the successful State Visit to Kenya by President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the invitation of his Kenyan counterpart, Dr William Ruto.

4.2. The visit included a Business Forum focusing on trade and investment between Kenya and South Africa. The visit also resulted in the signing of instruments on cooperation in correctional services, human settlements,... audio-visual co-production, and on building the capacity of the State with the National School of Government.

4.3. The two leaders discussed multilateral, economic, regional and continental issues. Kenya is South Africa's largest trading partner outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, making South Africa the biggest seller of goods to Kenya on the continent. South Africa exported over R6-billion worth of goods to Kenya in 2021.

5. Severe weather conditions

5.1. Cabinet called on the public to exercise caution during unfavourable weather conditions, particularly thunderstorms. Government and the South African Weather Service will continue to provide information on severe weather based on current observations and predictions.

5.2. People are advised not to walk, swim or drive through fast-moving flood water. Do not try to cross a flooded area because you could be swept away by the strong currents. Always ensure that your children are safe and they are able to travel safely. -->

6. Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders' Summit

6.1.President Ramaphosa participated in the 17th G20 Leaders' Summit held in Bali in the Republic of Indonesia from 15 to 16 November 2022, which brought together world leaders in a collective effort to find solutions to a wide range of global challenges. The envisaged solutions include increasing multilateral cooperation for the recovery of the global economy, to bring stability to the global financial system, to promote long-term sustainable growth and to strengthen global economic governance.

6.2. The theme of the summit held under the G20 Presidency of Indonesia was: "Recover Together, Recover Stronger".

6.3. As part of our nation's engagement, President Ramaphosa participated in the working sessions on health, food and energy security as well as held several bilateral meetings with key trade partners.

6.4. Cabinet welcomed the deliberations at the summit, which underpin our own national priorities of reducing poverty, unemployment and inequality. -->

7. Skills Development and Training

7.1. Cabinet welcomed the official launch of a 4IR micro-laboratory at the Goldfields Technical and Vocational Education and Training College in Welkom, Free State on Thursday, 10 November 2022. This contributes towards skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship, as the country can provide new, better and faster solutions to our challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

B. Cabinet decisions

1. Biannual performance reports

1.1.Cabinet approved the biannual performance progress reports for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022. In addition to capturing the biannual performance progress, the reports also provide a mid-term review of the priorities of the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework.

1.2. The reports are compiled according to the five clusters namely (i) Justice, Crime Prevention and Security; (ii) Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development; (iii) Social Protection, Community and Human Development; (iv) Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development, and (v) International Cooperation, Trade and Security.

1.3. The reports provide an analysis of the key indicators of the seven adopted priorities of government using data collected from the departmental reports, statistics from Statistics South Africa and reports from the academia. The information is analysed against the National Development Plan: Vision 2030.

1.4. Cabinet appreciated the remarkable progress reported in some areas that showed performance that exceeded the set-out targets. However, it expressed concern at the slow progress reflected in some of the reports. Cabinet approved the proposed interventions to be implemented to fast-track areas that showed a slow progress.

1.5. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation will soon convene a roundtable discussion with the media to unpack these reports.

2. Policy measures to restrict trade in scrap metal to limit damage to public infrastructure and the economy

2.1 Cabinet considered and approved the comprehensive package of measures to address the damage to public infrastructure and the economy by restricting trade of waste scrap and semi processed metals.

2.2 This follows the gazetting on 5 August 2022 for public comment of the "Draft Policy Proposals on Measures to Restrict and Regulate Trade in Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Waste, Scrap and Semi-Finished Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Products to Limit Damage to Infrastructure and the Economy", by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition; and consideration of the extensive public comments received.

2.3 Details of the measures to be implemented will now be processed for publication in the Government Gazette by the relevant Ministries and a detailed media release containing details of the measures will be released by the GCIS as soon as the necessary legal work has been finalised.

2.4 South Africa will also engage with the SADC, African Union and the Southern African Customs Union to ensure a coordinated approach to fight this crime collectively as a region.

C. Upcoming event

1. Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA)

1.1. Infrastructure South Africa, in partnership with GIZ, a German development agency, will host its third SIDSSA in Cape Town Century City from 28 to 30 November 2022. This year's symposium will focus on green hydrogen as an important growth sector in the country's investment strategy.

1.2. The symposium will bring together decision-makers, financial institutions, academics and international authorities. The event will afford the country the opportunity to showcase some of the large and low-cost world-class green hydrogen production hubs.

1.3. The demand for green hydrogen-based products such as ammonia and synthetic jet fuels is rising. The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in South Africa has been researching green hydrogen with a focus on green mobility and the use of platinum group metals.

1.4. Cabinet approved the Hydrogen Society Roadmap earlier this year. The roadmap is one of government's strategies and policy direction aimed at bringing together a variety of public and private stakeholders and institutions around a common vision on how to use and deploy hydrogen and hydrogen-related technologies, as part of the country's economic development and greening objectives.

1.5. In South Africa, hydrogen is extensively used in the chemical and fuel-refining sectors, but it is currently produced mainly from non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas.

D. Appointments

All appointments are subject to the verification of qualifications and security clearance.

1. Ms Phindile Baleni as Director-General (DG) in The Presidency and Cabinet Secretary (Contract extended by five-years).

2. Dr Philemon Mphathi Mjwara as DG at the DSI (Contract extended by one year).

3. Cabinet concurred with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition with the following appointments

4. Board of the South African Bureau of Standards:

a. Dr Sandile Bethuel Malinga (Chairperson);

b. Mr Tumisang Tsehlo;

c. Dr Rudzani Nemutudi

d. Ms Deidré Penfold.

e. Dr Nandipha Madiba

f. Ms Gloria Mnguni

g. Dr Ron Josias and

h. Dr Mukondeleli Grace Kanakana-Katumba

5. Board of the Companies Tribunal

a. Judge Dennis Davis (Chairperson)

b. Ms Minah Tong-Mongalo (Deputy Chairperson)

c. Ms Daiane Terblanche

d. Ms Hlaleleni Kathleen Dlepu

e. Prof. Clement Marumoagae

f. Mr Joshua Sesha Kadish

g. Mr Richard Bradstreet.

h. Mr Fulufhedzani Shane Mudzunga

i. Ms Nomagcisa Cawe

j. Mr Brian Jennings and

k. Dr Alli Chicktay

6. Dr Mashilo Boloka: Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Film and Publication Board.

Appointed to the six member Board of the International Association of Internet Hotline (INHOPE). INHOPE is a global body set up in 1996 in the Netherland to protect Children Against Sexual Abuse Material. more

Job market in Kenya

 2y

Arrests of individuals allegedly linked to State Capture welcomed - Cabinet


4. Kenya State Visit

4.1. Cabinet welcomed the successful State Visit to Kenya by President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the invitation of his Kenyan counterpart, Dr William Ruto.

4.2. The visit included a Business Forum focusing on trade and investment between Kenya and South Africa. The visit also resulted in the signing of instruments on cooperation in correctional services, human settlements,... audio-visual co-production, and on building the capacity of the State with the National School of Government.

4.3. The two leaders discussed multilateral, economic, regional and continental issues. Kenya is South Africa's largest trading partner outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, making South Africa the biggest seller of goods to Kenya on the continent. South Africa exported over R6-billion worth of goods to Kenya in 2021.

5. Severe weather conditions

5.1. Cabinet called on the public to exercise caution during unfavourable weather conditions, particularly thunderstorms. Government and the South African Weather Service will continue to provide information on severe weather based on current observations and predictions.

5.2. People are advised not to walk, swim or drive through fast-moving flood water. Do not try to cross a flooded area because you could be swept away by the strong currents. Always ensure that your children are safe and they are able to travel safely. -->

6. Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders' Summit

6.1.President Ramaphosa participated in the 17th G20 Leaders' Summit held in Bali in the Republic of Indonesia from 15 to 16 November 2022, which brought together world leaders in a collective effort to find solutions to a wide range of global challenges. The envisaged solutions include increasing multilateral cooperation for the recovery of the global economy, to bring stability to the global financial system, to promote long-term sustainable growth and to strengthen global economic governance.

6.2. The theme of the summit held under the G20 Presidency of Indonesia was: "Recover Together, Recover Stronger".

6.3. As part of our nation's engagement, President Ramaphosa participated in the working sessions on health, food and energy security as well as held several bilateral meetings with key trade partners.

6.4. Cabinet welcomed the deliberations at the summit, which underpin our own national priorities of reducing poverty, unemployment and inequality. -->

7. Skills Development and Training

7.1. Cabinet welcomed the official launch of a 4IR micro-laboratory at the Goldfields Technical and Vocational Education and Training College in Welkom, Free State on Thursday, 10 November 2022. This contributes towards skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship, as the country can provide new, better and faster solutions to our challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

B. Cabinet decisions

1. Biannual performance reports

1.1.Cabinet approved the biannual performance progress reports for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022. In addition to capturing the biannual performance progress, the reports also provide a mid-term review of the priorities of the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework.

1.2. The reports are compiled according to the five clusters namely (i) Justice, Crime Prevention and Security; (ii) Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development; (iii) Social Protection, Community and Human Development; (iv) Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development, and (v) International Cooperation, Trade and Security.

1.3. The reports provide an analysis of the key indicators of the seven adopted priorities of government using data collected from the departmental reports, statistics from Statistics South Africa and reports from the academia. The information is analysed against the National Development Plan: Vision 2030.

1.4. Cabinet appreciated the remarkable progress reported in some areas that showed performance that exceeded the set-out targets. However, it expressed concern at the slow progress reflected in some of the reports. Cabinet approved the proposed interventions to be implemented to fast-track areas that showed a slow progress.

1.5. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation will soon convene a roundtable discussion with the media to unpack these reports.

2. Policy measures to restrict trade in scrap metal to limit damage to public infrastructure and the economy

2.1 Cabinet considered and approved the comprehensive package of measures to address the damage to public infrastructure and the economy by restricting trade of waste scrap and semi processed metals.

2.2 This follows the gazetting on 5 August 2022 for public comment of the "Draft Policy Proposals on Measures to Restrict and Regulate Trade in Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Waste, Scrap and Semi-Finished Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Products to Limit Damage to Infrastructure and the Economy", by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition; and consideration of the extensive public comments received.

2.3 Details of the measures to be implemented will now be processed for publication in the Government Gazette by the relevant Ministries and a detailed media release containing details of the measures will be released by the GCIS as soon as the necessary legal work has been finalised.

2.4 South Africa will also engage with the SADC, African Union and the Southern African Customs Union to ensure a coordinated approach to fight this crime collectively as a region.

C. Upcoming event

1. Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA)

1.1. Infrastructure South Africa, in partnership with GIZ, a German development agency, will host its third SIDSSA in Cape Town Century City from 28 to 30 November 2022. This year's symposium will focus on green hydrogen as an important growth sector in the country's investment strategy.

1.2. The symposium will bring together decision-makers, financial institutions, academics and international authorities. The event will afford the country the opportunity to showcase some of the large and low-cost world-class green hydrogen production hubs.

1.3. The demand for green hydrogen-based products such as ammonia and synthetic jet fuels is rising. The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in South Africa has been researching green hydrogen with a focus on green mobility and the use of platinum group metals.

1.4. Cabinet approved the Hydrogen Society Roadmap earlier this year. The roadmap is one of government's strategies and policy direction aimed at bringing together a variety of public and private stakeholders and institutions around a common vision on how to use and deploy hydrogen and hydrogen-related technologies, as part of the country's economic development and greening objectives.

1.5. In South Africa, hydrogen is extensively used in the chemical and fuel-refining sectors, but it is currently produced mainly from non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas.

D. Appointments

All appointments are subject to the verification of qualifications and security clearance.

1. Ms Phindile Baleni as Director-General (DG) in The Presidency and Cabinet Secretary (Contract extended by five-years).

2. Dr Philemon Mphathi Mjwara as DG at the DSI (Contract extended by one year).

3. Cabinet concurred with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition with the following appointments

4. Board of the South African Bureau of Standards:

a. Dr Sandile Bethuel Malinga (Chairperson);

b. Mr Tumisang Tsehlo;

c. Dr Rudzani Nemutudi

d. Ms Deidré Penfold.

e. Dr Nandipha Madiba

f. Ms Gloria Mnguni

g. Dr Ron Josias and

h. Dr Mukondeleli Grace Kanakana-Katumba

5. Board of the Companies Tribunal

a. Judge Dennis Davis (Chairperson)

b. Ms Minah Tong-Mongalo (Deputy Chairperson)

c. Ms Daiane Terblanche

d. Ms Hlaleleni Kathleen Dlepu

e. Prof. Clement Marumoagae

f. Mr Joshua Sesha Kadish

g. Mr Richard Bradstreet.

h. Mr Fulufhedzani Shane Mudzunga

i. Ms Nomagcisa Cawe

j. Mr Brian Jennings and

k. Dr Alli Chicktay

6. Dr Mashilo Boloka: Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Film and Publication Board.

Appointed to the six member Board of the International Association of Internet Hotline (INHOPE). INHOPE is a global body set up in 1996 in the Netherland to protect Children Against Sexual Abuse Material. more

Job market in Kenya

 2y

Why we must rethink the key parts of Hustler Fund


Kenya's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute approximately 40 per cent of the GDP with a majority falling in the informal sector and the contribution is set to rise to 50 per cent by 2025.

Despite accounting for up to 93 per cent of the country's total labour force, they continue to suffer the pain of underfunding.

Chronic underinvestment at the lower end of the economy has... resulted in declining job opportunities, stagnant incomes and deteriorating financial health.

ALSO READ: EDITORIAL: Ensure the right people access Hustler Fund

The situation has further been compounded by increasing exposure to shocks including the rising cost of living and the Covid-19 effect as well climate vagaries.

Accordingly, any efforts to reverse this trend are welcome especially at a time when MSMEs continue to struggle to stay afloat due to inflation.

In recent months, the Hustler Fund has emerged as a mouth-watering relief and is so far the most popular affirmative action fund of the William Ruto Presidency.

The fund expected to be launched in December will require all borrowers on this platform to participate in a short-term savings plan and long-term pensions programme.

Every saving made by borrowers will be matched by the government on a 2:1 ratio to a level to be determined by the programme.

The challenge, however, remains the rollout of the fund which was mooted as a part of the larger State's bottom-up economic approach. For instance, while there are about 7.41 million MSMEs in Kenya, only 1.56 million are licensed.

ALSO READ: Explainer: What you need to know about Hustler Fund

Working on the assumption that only the legal MSMEs will be eligible for funding, a back-of-the-hand calculation implies that a business will only be eligible for a maximum of Sh32,051 if no processing fees are charged on the loans.

The potential failure of the Hustler Fund can be inferred from the previous government interventions over the years.

Soon after Kenya gained its independence in 1963, the government embarked on efforts towards the revitalisation of the economy through various fiscal and non-fiscal interventions.

More particularly, the Sessional Paper no. 10 of 1965 was ratified with the primary objective of advocating for a mixed approach to economic management.

Based on this, the government sought to localise the Kenyan economy by encouraging private sector participation.

In this, regard, the Kenya Industrial Estates Limited was created in 1967 as a subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation and, later in 1972, became an autonomous institution entrusted with the tasks of promoting and encouraging the establishment of small-scale industries.

To achieve this, KIE was empowered to negotiate and receive loans, grants and aid from bilateral and other sources for the purpose of carrying out its tasks.

In the 1980s Kenya received support from the World Bank in the form of Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs) which sought to reduce budget deficits and reduce public expenditure through a range of macroeconomic changes.

Nevertheless, research has shown that compliance with the SAPs as advanced by World Bank negatively impacted the vulnerable sectors of the economy such as the MSMEs.

In response to the failures of the SAPs, the government again adopted the Sessional Paper No. 2 of 1992 on "Small Enterprise and Jua Kali Development in Kenya" (1992) which was hailed as a masterpiece since it filled the policy vacuum for the MSE Sector development in Kenya.

The paper outlined several policy recommendations pertaining to credit, enabling environment and non-financial promotional programmes to enhance the growth of the MSE sector.

To address the shortcomings of previous policies and changing economic landscapes, the government adopted several other interventions including the Sessional paper No. 2 of 1997 on Industrial Transformation to the year 2020 and the Sessional paper No.2 of 2005 on the Development of Micro and Small Enterprises for wealth and employment creation for poverty reduction recognises the importance of a well-functioning policy on MSEs as critical for attracting and spreading investment in both urban and rural areas.

More recently, the government established the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (2007, the Women Enterprise Fund (2007), the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) (2012) and the Uwezo Fund (part of the Vision 2030 blueprint).

While the successes of the said interventions are numerous, there seems to be a lack of a long-term approach to addressing the actual challenges that affect MSMEs in Kenya.

Instead of escapism and adopting political or populist approaches, could the current regime consider a more inclusive and properly researched approach that would benefit the mama mboga?

James is the CEO of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. more
1   

Job market in Kenya

 2y

Kenya: Government Partners With Bank to Train Youth on Maritime Jobs


Mombasa -- At least 600 youth are set to benefit from a three-year partnership between KCB Bank, KCB foundation and Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) aimed at training and empowering them with skills that will enable them to secure overseas jobs as seafarers.

A total of Sh 155 million has been set aside to be disbursed to the youth as bursaries to enable them to avail training opportunities for a... period of three years commencing 2023 depending on their qualifications.

Speaking during the event State Department for Shipping and Maritime Principal Secretary (PS) Nancy Karigithu disclosed that the arrangement will see the youth receive safety training in shipping and maritime as well as avail unsecured loan products from KCB bank to secure visa documentation, embarkation costs and other travel logistics.

Karigithu acknowledged the need for more private-public partnerships to enable the youth to take advantage of available maritime opportunities.

"We will play our role in licensing the qualified youth following their training and thereafter oversee their transition into the maritime industry and overall welfare. Given our youthful population we aim to position the country as a hub for maritime vessels across the globe," she said.

The PS noted that the youth will be trained in accredited technical vocational training institutions vetted by Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA).

"Minority groups, Persons Living With Disability (PLWDs) and women are a key consideration for the opportunities," she added.

The PS also called upon the youth to be patient as all the training is life skills and a journey. She further cautioned them to stop embracing lamenting on social media about their problems in regard to unemployment.

"There is an unemployment crisis in the country as we have a huge bulge of young people who are not getting into employment but the government is doing the best to assist you in achieving your goals. We look at this crisis not as a challenge but an opportunity for us to be innovative and get into other areas of production such as tapping into the maritime sector to increase our Gross Domestic product (GDP)," she said.

According to KCB Director of Retail Annastacia Kimtai the efforts are in line with KCB's commitment to tackling youth unemployment through a sustainable approach focused on providing opportunities for the youth to thrive.

"Our end goal is to unlock access to seafarers' jobs in the international maritime fleets for our youth and provide a bridge to finance through joint efforts with KMA and KCB foundation. As a local bank with global solutions, our intention is to continually provide solutions that are geared towards uplifting the livelihoods of our young people," added Kimtai.

Mombasa deputy governor Francis Thoya affirmed the county's commitment to supporting the project and co-operating to enable the empowerment of youth from the coast and the entire country.

"We are still grappling with the challenge of low transition between secondary schools to the university in the region thus the need to empower our youth skill-wise to connect to the job market," said Thoya. more
2   

Job market in Kenya

 2y

What the Ruto government could mean for Kenya-Europe relations


"Kenya First" may sound Trumpian. But if the new president can deliver on his promise to strengthen governance in the country, Kenya could prove an even more valuable partner for Europe.

In August, Kenyans narrowly elected William Ruto as their fifth president. Ruto stood on a platform of "Kenya Kwanza" - "Kenya First." The challenges facing the country's new leader are significant: corruption is... rampant; the covid-19 pandemic has pushed up unemployment; and the cost of living has become unsustainable for most citizens. But what does "Kenya First" mean? And what does Ruto's arrival in office mean for Kenya's relationships within Africa and with Europe?

It is worth noting that even the nature of his win - or, rather, its immediate aftermath - may have helped strengthen Kenyan democracy and society. The defeated opposition leader, former prime minister Raila Odinga, challenged the result in the supreme court, but lost. Yet he accepted its decision. This stands in stark contrast to events during and following the 2017 poll, which was marred by significant violence. In terms of Kenya's place in east Africa and as a partner for Europe, a resilient democracy can enable it to act as a regional player. Indeed - and in contrast with "America First" - the Kenya First manifesto places great emphasis on good governance: upholding the constitution, strengthening the judiciary, and prioritising the people's needs over the personal interests of the elite.

Ruto appears set to pursue an interests-based foreign policy, particularly on national borrowing and development opportunities, although the new administration has also been quick to express a wish to strengthen relationships with Kenya's international partners. Retaining Kenya's role as an "anchor state" was a pledge the new president explicitly made during the campaign - that is, maintaining the considerable influence, particularly within the East Africa Community and African Union, that Kenya has long been able to exert. In this respect, enhanced stability at home could assist the new administration to tackle regional security challenges, such as border disputes with Somalia and the nature of the interventions of the African Union in Somalia (AMISOM). As deputy president, Ruto supported Kenya's contribution as a key partner of the AMISOM, backing investment in the peacekeeping mission. On security within Kenya, meanwhile, Ruto has pledged to continue working closely with the European Union on countering violent extremism.

In addition, he has promised to pursue "economic and commercial" diplomacy, aiming to support the economic needs of Kenyans while negotiating with international partners, and providing a stable political environment that encourages foreign investment. The high cost of living in the country is partly due to the considerable revenue that goes on servicing the country's debt. As Kenya's biggest export market, the EU can work with the new administration to promote fair trade and investments in east Africa. As part of its bottom-up economy approach, the new government has committed to investing in agriculture and the informal sector in Kenya: the majority of the population works in this sector or in other low-wage jobs. The EU therefore has a fresh opportunity to identify ways to invest in job creation and support tax revenue to strengthen the government's balance sheet.

On the key issue of China and its relationship with states in the region, Kenyans have long expressed concern about the nature of the previous government's dealings with the country. For example, in December 2014, President Uhuru Kenyatta contracted the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to undertake community infrastructure projects. A landmark ruling by the high court earlier this year made this agreement public. Throughout his campaign, Ruto committed to make all contracts between Kenya and China public. If Ruto follows through with this, it could shift the dynamics in the relationship between China and the West in Kenya, providing an opportunity for the EU to focus on investing in underfunded sectors. This would reduce duplication in development efforts, thereby increasing investments from international partners.

The EU should support the Kenyan government in implementing these new, ambitious plans. The administration must address the deep governance and social cohesion issues present in the country, in pursuit of national unity and development. The EU can also assist the evolution of Kenya's democracy by supporting a strong opposition that is able to hold the new administration to account and ensure it delivers on its commitments. more

Job market in Kenya

 2y

Government partners with Bank to train youth on maritime jobs


MOMBASA, Kenya, Oct 19 - At least 600 youth are set to benefit from a three-year partnership between KCB Bank, KCB foundation and Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) aimed at training and empowering them with skills that will enable them to secure overseas jobs as seafarers.

A total of Sh 155 million has been set aside to be disbursed to the youth as bursaries to enable them to avail training... opportunities for a period of three years commencing 2023 depending on their qualifications.

Speaking during the event State Department for Shipping and Maritime Principal Secretary (PS) Nancy Karigithu disclosed that the arrangement will see the youth receive safety training in shipping and maritime as well as avail unsecured loan products from KCB bank to secure visa documentation, embarkation costs and other travel logistics.

Karigithu acknowledged the need for more private-public partnerships to enable the youth to take advantage of available maritime opportunities.

"We will play our role in licensing the qualified youth following their training and thereafter oversee their transition into the maritime industry and overall welfare. Given our youthful population we aim to position the country as a hub for maritime vessels across the globe," she said.

The PS noted that the youth will be trained in accredited technical vocational training institutions vetted by Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA).

"Minority groups, Persons Living With Disability (PLWDs) and women are a key consideration for the opportunities," she added.

The PS also called upon the youth to be patient as all the training is life skills and a journey. She further cautioned them to stop embracing lamenting on social media about their problems in regard to unemployment.

"There is an unemployment crisis in the country as we have a huge bulge of young people who are not getting into employment but the government is doing the best to assist you in achieving your goals. We look at this crisis not as a challenge but an opportunity for us to be innovative and get into other areas of production such as tapping into the maritime sector to increase our Gross Domestic product (GDP)," she said.

According to KCB Director of Retail Annastacia Kimtai the efforts are in line with KCB's commitment to tackling youth unemployment through a sustainable approach focused on providing opportunities for the youth to thrive.

"Our end goal is to unlock access to seafarers' jobs in the international maritime fleets for our youth and provide a bridge to finance through joint efforts with KMA and KCB foundation. As a local bank with global solutions, our intention is to continually provide solutions that are geared towards uplifting the livelihoods of our young people," added Kimtai.

Mombasa deputy governor Francis Thoya affirmed the county's commitment to supporting the project and co-operating to enable the empowerment of youth from the coast and the entire country.

"We are still grappling with the challenge of low transition between secondary schools to the university in the region thus the need to empower our youth skill-wise to connect to the job market," said Thoya. more

Job market in Kenya

 3y

Education stakeholders commit to teaching coding in schools as building blocks for economy


NAIROBI, Oct 6 - Education stakeholders have affirmed their commitment to the early introduction of the coding curriculum in schools to help learners acquire technical skills relevant to a digital economy.

Technology is rapidly changing the landscape of the workforce with employers across the world increasingly seeking a digitally skilled labour force.

It is projected that by 2030, 50 - 55% of... all jobs in Kenya will require some level of digital skills with the demand being primarily driven by enterprises adopting digital technologies.

It is against this backdrop that the Kenya Association of International Schools (KAIS) in partnership with Education Technologies firm, Kodris Africa and Kenya Commercial Bank on Thursday convened a Digital skills symposium that brought together various stakeholders from the education and ICT sectors.

The event delved into the computing and coding curriculum and the importance of incorporating digital skills in primary and secondary schools. Also present were tech giants Microsoft, Google Safaricom and Liquid Telcom among others.

In the last two decades, curriculum reforms have been driven by rapid technological and social changes. However, while the importance of digital skills has been recognized, there has been less of a focus -- particularly in emerging markets -- on the scale of demand for these skills, and the models that can be used to teach them.

Speaking during the event, Jane Mwangi, KAIS Head of Secretariat, underscored the need to train learners on digital skills from the elementary level saying, "If you look at more developed countries like Singapore and Japan, they have been teaching coding to their learners from the kindergarten level, but as we have also done that as international schools, we are glad that public and private schools are finally catching up. We have no option but to make coding part of our lifestyle," she said.

Speaking during the event that was attended by close to 100 International Primary and Secondary Schools, Jack Ngare who is also head of Google in Africa said the only way Kenya and Africa are going to stay at par with developed nations is by introducing coding at the elementary level of schooling.

"Coding is one of the fundamental building blocks in IT and empowering our people to be able to understand and build some of the technological products that we consume is why we need to start teaching coding in this country at zero option. Rather than just being consumers of technology, we build it as well. We were left behind by the 1, 2 and 3 industrial revolutions, are we going to allow ourselves to be left behind by the 4 industrial revolution too?"

Managing Director, Microsoft Africa Development Centre, Catherine Muraga said coding has become so central to all career paths adding, "the need to teach learners how to solve problems through coding has become a lot more important that we have to pay attention. It is as important as English or French in communication. We have to make sure our children are well equipped for efficiency and productivity."

In Kenya, the demand for digital skills training is expected to surge as we approach the next decade. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the speed of this change. 70% of demand is expected to be for foundational skills, followed by 23 % for non-ICT intermediate skills.

Kodris Africa is the only organization offering a curriculum approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). Speaking at the event, Kodris Africa CEO, Mugumo Munene emphasized the importance of teaching learners more than just how to use computer applications.

"If you talk to experts, they will tell you that the younger you start learning how to code the better it is. In a world which is so connected, children need to learn digital skills such as coding from an early age. The curriculum we have developed is not necessarily for one segment of schools, it is cross-cutting and can be deployed by public schools, private schools and international schools."

Coding involves translating instructions for a computer from human language to a language a machine/computer can understand. Technologies that we have come to rely on such as smartphones, ATM cards, mobile money, Internet banking, e-learning, and telemedicine all run on codes.

Speaking on behalf of KICD, which is the body mandated to provide curricula and curriculum support materials, the Assistant Director of e-Learning, Charles Munene said that "In the last two decades, curriculum reforms have been driven by rapid technological and social changes. Coding is becoming the most in-demand job skill of the future, therefore, we must align our curriculum to this rising demand in the job market."

Countries like the US, China, England, Germany and France among many others in the developed world have already made coding compulsory for grade-one learners.

Globally, employment in computer and IT occupations is projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for IT occupations was $91,250 in May 2020, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $41,950. Demand for IT skills is expected to be driven by cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security. more
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Job market in Kenya

 3y

3000 Youth to Benefit from BrighterMonday Kenya and Ministry of ICT Job Placement Program


NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 29- 3000 youth are set to benefit from an internship and job placement program through a partnership between BrighterMonday Kenya, Creative Management Consultants Ltd, and the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) under The Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs.

The agreement was formalized and launched a week ago on September 19 at the Ministry of... ICT offices in Nairobi, signaling the beginning of the World Bank-funded program aimed at driving socioeconomic growth for the youth.

Announcing the partnership, BrighterMonday's CEO Brian Ntambirweki said that the program will lay the foundation for both organizations to develop more strategies for youth empowerment and boost their chances of employment.

"We remain keen on supporting the youth and enabling them to get access to jobs in Kenya, and by collaborating with the Ministry of ICT under KYEOP, which is working on different initiatives, we are confident that we are heading towards the right direction in solving labour market challenges in Kenya," Ntambirweki stated.

The project will offer opportunities to the Kenyan youth, drawn from 17 counties across the country who will get access to different employers across diverse work disciplines.

The announcement comes at a time when the unemployment rate in the country is on the increase with World Bank data showing that 5.7 percent of Kenya's labor force was out of work in 2021, up from 2.8 percent in 2013.

BrighterMonday CEO termed the project timely saying Africa's population is young and youthful necessitating the need to tap into their energetic resources and upskill them for better employment.

He went on to say that the company is committed to investing in talent while also collaborating with other individuals and like-minded organizations that are tackling these kinds of challenges at scale.

"As part of our renewed mandate, we are now going beyond offering jobs and digging deeper into talent development through learning and upskilling to ensure that Africans and Kenyans are better equipped to participate in labor markets with strong and relevant transferable skills," he said.

Augustine Mayabi, National Project Co-ordinator at KYEOP on his part said the move is a great step towards reducing unemployment, arguing that a majority of the youth lack the requisite skills to assist them land opportunities.

"We are happy to witness the unveiling of a great initiative that will enable the youth in these 17 counties to get access to training and employment opportunities. We have noticed that after training these youth with various training institutions, we lose track of some, and we now want to bring them back on board to offer internships and employment opportunities as they are fully equipped," Mayabi said.

The Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) is a Government of Kenya (GoK) flagship project aiming to address the multiple employment challenges affecting youth employment using a multi-sectorial approach.

To tackle unemployment, organizations keep devising strategies to deal with the problem.

For most, partnerships are becoming key as they implement the projects holistically. Public-private partnerships are now taking over the scene from different sectors to address different societal challenges.

BrighterMonday was established in 2006 and has grown to become Kenya's leading recruitment and HR services platform.

Currently over 800,000 candidates and 36,000 employers, successfully using the platform to get access to the right opportunities. more
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Job market in Kenya

 3y

Businessmen Plead With Joe Biden Over Unemployment in Kenya


The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has requested US President Joe Biden not to end the duty-free access agreement with Kenya.

The association noted that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) agreement if expunged, would exacerbate the unemployment situation in Kenya.

KAM explained that the agreement should be carried on either as part of a bilateral trade agreement or through... the renewal of AGOA.

"With unemployment and under-employment challenges in Kenya at a record high, the contribution of AGOA to creating job opportunities cannot be underestimated," the association noted.

The agreement is set to expire in 2025 and the Biden-led administration is yet to issue a statement over its renewal, sparking doubts on whether White House will be committed to prolonging the deal.

KAM received support from the US Business Group known as Corporate Council on Africa noting that the agreement accounted for northwards of 50,000 jobs.

Kenya also exports the highest apparel to the US valued at Ksh54 billion (USD449 million).

"(Kenya is) the largest AGOA exporter of apparel to the U.S, totalling Ksh54 million ($449 million) in 2021 and accounting for some 50,000 direct jobs.

"(It is) important that we have an agreement with Kenya that establishes a broader economic partnership that goes beyond AGOA's unilateral preferences and addresses more than just tariffs and goods market access," the group argued as reported by Politico.

The new request comes on the backdrop of the US surpassing Uganda as the largest buyer of goods from Kenya.

Total exports to the US surpassed the Ksh38.8 billion mark in the first half of 2022 mostly influenced by clothes, a growth of 47 per cent.

In the same period, the US exported goods worth Ksh84 billion to Kenya mostly made of aircraft, plastics, machinery and wheat.

Other trade markets for Kenyan goods include Pakistan, Netherlands, UK and Tanzania. more

Job market in Kenya

 3y

Kenya frets about future trade with U.S.


-- Kenya, the only African country engaged in bilateral trade talks with the United States, is worried about losing U.S. duty-free access for its apparel and other goods because the negotiations do not cover tariffs.

-- House lawmakers will introduce legislation today to suspend tariffs on base powder, an essential ingredient in infant formula, through Dec. 31 in a move supporters hope will spur... domestic formula production and further alleviate the national shortage.

-- USTR on Friday outlined for the trade pillar of the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework agreement, just two weeks after all 14 participants agreed on joint goals.

It's Monday, Sept. 26. Welcome to Morning Trade. Today is a good day to repair a leak in your basement, according to my 1974 Popular Science Homeowners Almanac. And if you're looking for more chores, you could seal your hearthstone tomorrow, buy tulip bulbs Wednesday, dig flower beds Thursday and drain your water heater Friday. Then go bird watching Saturday.

What's happening in your world? Send the team your trade news: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].

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KENYAN MANUFACTURERS WANT PERMANENT DUTY-FREE ACCESS: The Biden administration has been clear that none of its trade negotiations cover tariffs. That includes talks with the U.K., the EU and the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership talks with Kenya.

In Kenya's case, the country already has duty-free access to the United States for most of its goods under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. But the Biden administration has not said yet whether it supports renewal of that legislation, which expires in 2025.

So, in comments filed with the USTR, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers requested that duty-free access be continued, either as part of a bilateral trade agreement or through renewal of the nearly quarter century old AGOA program.

"With unemployment and under employment challenges in Kenya at a record high, the contribution of AGOA to creating job opportunities cannot be underestimated," the group said.

The Corporate Council on Africa, a U.S. business group, also urged continuation of Kenya's duty-free access, noting the West African country is "the largest AGOA exporter of apparel to the U.S., totaling $449 million in 2021 and accounting for some 50,000 direct jobs."

But it's "important that we have an agreement with Kenya that establishes a broader economic partnership that goes beyond AGOA's unilateral preferences and addresses more than just tariffs and goods market access," the CCA added.

Additional areas should include digital trade and financial services, as well as provisions that promote deeper foreign investment and protect investors from unfair treatment, the group said.

Trade activists at Public Citizen approached the market access question from the other side, arguing that it's hard to see how a bilateral agreement with the United States would be better for Kenya than a simple renewal of the AGOA program since "history has shown that countries signing trade agreements with the United States have to make major anti-development concessions."

The group urged USTR not to negotiate a traditional free trade agreement with Kenya because that would have "catastrophic policy and political repercussions."

FIRST IN MORNING TRADE: The Bulk Infant Formula to Retail Shelves Act is being proposed by members of the Ways and Means trade subcommittee, including Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Earl Blumenauer(D-Ore.), Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), John Larson (D-Conn.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.).

In July, those same lawmakers rallied broad bipartisan support for the Formula Act, a bill that temporarily lifted tariffs on imports of finished formula. U.S. formula companies lobbied heavily for base powder to be included in that earlier bill, but the provision was excluded amid concerns expressed by dairy producers.

While shelves are better stocked today than over the summer, formula remains difficult for many families to come by. "The legislation I'm introducing today will build on that progress by helping increase domestic formula production," DelBene said in a statement. "I'm hopeful that this bill can move with the same speed and bipartisan support that the previous legislation had."

G20 TRADE MINISTERS CLASH OVER RUSSIA: A meeting between trade ministers from the world's leading economies in Bali, Indonesia, ended without a joint statement Friday after representatives disagreed over whether to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Indonesia was expected instead to issue "a chair's statement" outlining the six priorities that lower level officials agreed on earlier in the week. Those include WTO reforms, a multilateral approach to industrialization, digital trade and the pandemic response, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The G-20 host issued a press release Friday that did not mention the minister's failure to agree on a joint statement or include a link to a chair's statement. G-20 finance ministers also failed to agree on a joint statement when they met in July.

Indonesian softball: The European Union, which released its own readout of the gathering, said most countries agreed the conflict was the primary challenge for international trade and "condemned this gross violation of international law."

The U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain objected to the statement produced by Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan since it didn't include explicit condemnation of Russia, according to international media reports.

"Of the 27 paragraphs of the joint statement, 26 were agreed, one was not. The paragraph that was not agreed upon was about geopolitical issues. There was no consensus," Hasan was quoted as saying.

Agriculture is next: G-20 agriculture ministers will be in Bali later this week to discuss global food security, efforts to boost sustainability and related concerns.

Tai heads to Japan: Tai will be in Tokyo Tuesday to attend former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's state funeral. The U.S. delegation is led by Vice President Kamala Harris, who also will visit South Korea on the trip.

MENENDEZ HOLDS UP MCKALIP AG NOMINATION: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has placed a hold on the nomination of Doug McKalip to be USTR's chief agricultural negotiator until he receives assurances the agency will establish procedures for greater congressional oversight and transparency of U.S. trade policy, a spokesperson for the senator confirmed after Inside U.S. Trade reported the action last week.

"As [Menendez] awaits commitments and specific actions to this end, he opposes confirmation of this nominee as a way to send the clearest signal that he firmly believes Americans deserve honest and transparent trade policy that prioritizes the economic interests of the country and cracks down on waste, fraud, and abuse," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Long time coming: Menendez was one of six senators in May to sign a letter to Ambassador Katherine Tai that claimed the agency was not upholding its own transparency standards, and failed to properly consult Congress in dealings with the World Trade Organization involving intellectual property and Covid-19 vaccines.

Farm groups impatient: Last week, a coalition of 105 agriculture and food associations and companies sent a letter to Senate leaders urging a swift floor vote on McKalip's nomination. The Senate Finance Committee voted 27-0 in favor of advancing the long-time government employee's nomination two weeks ago, with Menendez abstaining.

A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF U.S. IPEF GOALS: A USTR spokesperson called the short outline of the agency's negotiating objectives "a vision document that is guiding our conversations with IPEF partners and stakeholders." It runs just slightly more than two pages, although USTR said it could be updated at a later date.

In May 2021, the Biden administration committed to following certain "Guidelines for Consultation and Engagement" developed by the Obama administration in 2015.

Those guidelines say "at least 30 days before initiating negotiations for a trade agreement, USTR will publish a detailed and comprehensive summary of the specific objectives with respect to the negotiations and a description of how the agreement, if successfully concluded, will further those objectives and benefit the United States."

The guidelines also say USTR will hold a public hearing on the negotiating objectives. However, a USTR spokesperson said those transparency commitments that Tai reaffirmed do not apply to IPEF since it is an "executive" agreement not subject to congressional approval.

CANADIAN DAIRY WAITING GAME: It's been about 120 days since USTR initiated a second dairy dispute with Canada after its first effort failed to force Ottawa to open its market as much as U.S. industry believes it should be under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

By now, USTR is within its rights to request another dispute settlement panel to hear its complaint since no deal to resolve the disagreement has been announced. However, a USTR spokesperson on Friday provided little information on that. "We're engaged with Canada on next steps, in close coordination with stakeholders," the spokesperson said.

Becky Rasdall, vice president for trade policy and international affairs at the International Dairy Foods Association, said it has "been in communication with USTR about the substance of the second round of consultations and are working to support their efforts."

What's next: Although timing is still uncertain, "we support proceeding with the second dispute when USTR is ready," Rasdall said.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME TRADE TALK? Unfortunately, we couldn't get Hank Williams Jr. to kick off the WTO's Public Forum this week, but I'll try my best to pump you up about the annual gabfest. I mean, if four days of multi-room discussions on every conceivable trade topic is your idea of heaven, then Geneva is where you want to be this week.

Just imagine being trapped in a building and every door you open is a different Washington International Trade Association event. It'll be something like that. And to get the ball rolling, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will sit down Tuesday with CNN's Business Editor-at-Large Richard Quest for a scene-setting chat.

For anyone who forgot to book a flight to Switzerland, you can watch select events on the web. For fans of the beautiful game, Okonjo-Iweala also will be talking Tuesday with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. I guess somebody's ready for some football! Goooooooooooooooal!

-- EU fears losing influence in Latin America as trade deals falters, The Financial Times reports.

-- Canada and South Korea are looking to ditch trade dependency on China by mining stronger bilateral relations -- and more critical minerals together, POLITICO reports.

-- The United States hosted a meeting of senior officials from nearly 20 countries to discuss the new Minerals Security Partnership, the U.S. Export-Import Bank said.

-- France launched a global drive to improve developing countries' access to fertilizers in an effort to prevent the energy crisis from exacerbating an already dire world hunger situation, POLITICO reports.

-- Several European Union nations are pushing to broaden sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.

-- Ukraine said it would downgrade diplomatic ties with Iran over Tehran's decision to supply Russian forces with drones, Reuters reports.

-- The Department of Treasury announced Friday it was updating guidance to expand internet service to Iranians, most of whom have been cut off from the internet by their own government amid its violent crackdown on peaceful protests, POLITICO reports.

-- China's top memory chip maker carefully treads path to semiconductor self-sufficiency as U.S. ponders trade sanctions, The South China Morning Post reports. -- The United States, Mexico and Canada held the second meeting of the USMCA Environment Committee on Friday. more

Job market in Kenya

 3y

Ruto's administration should expand markets for agricultural products to create jobs


NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 19 - When Dr William Ruto took the oath of office as the fifth president of Kenya a few days ago, one of the things he promised farmers, in general, was to ensure the availability of farming inputs like fertilizer to all farmers across the country.

His Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Kaguta Museveni did hint at the need for the creation of regional markets for agricultural... products. This begs the question of how can local farmers have access to the East African Community market as a way of creating jobs for the youth

Whereas most youth today in the African continent prefer technology-related jobs, agriculture is the single-largest source of income for rural Africans and contributes to a quarter of the continent's gross domestic product.

The sector occupies more than 70 per cent of the labor force in Africa's low-income countries and contributes to food security and poverty reduction.

Despite the prevalence of agriculture, the World Bank states that 80 per cent of the world's rural poor earn a living through farming, and the sector employs half the rural population of the entire continent of Africa.

Most smallholder farmers live in poverty, operating crop and livestock farms that aren't as productive as they could be and missing out on critical opportunities to contribute to their larger food systems.

However, expansion of the agriculture sector can boost the incomes of poor families two to four times more effectively than other industries, and two out of three young people outside urban areas in developing countries live where there is the most agro-ecological potential, and the role of youth in agriculture is, in fact, that of immense possibility to grow more food, transform local food systems and build economies that lift entire communities out of poverty.

Consequently, rural areas are in need of numerous programs to enhance the empowerment of youth residing in these locales.

Rural youth should be motivated to embrace agriculture by viewing agriculture as an attractive mode of enterprise.

Donkey farming is one of the many agricultural enterprises that the youth could be motivated to venture into.

According to a study done by KARLO, working donkeys are a critical source of income for owners and users. Donkey owners and users earn 87 per cent of their annual gross income from commercial donkey transporting. This translates to Sh239,475pa working an average of six days per week.

Households in which donkey owners hire laborer to engage in a range of activities earn about 46 per cent of the household annual income from commercial donkey transporting activities. This translates to Sh140,400 annual income from donkey activities per household. Casual donkey laborer household gets 69 per cent of their annual cash from casual labor associated with commercial donkey transporting translating to Sh117,000.

Working donkeys also provide a saving, that is derived from the use of donkeys to perform tasks that, if they were not donkey owners, would require an animal to be hired for money from another source and /or involve additional time by the owner's family to complete. donkey- owning households, on average, use their animal for non-commercial activities for about 660hours throughout the year.

Donkey-owning household meet their food, non-food item and other resource need mostly through income generated by working donkeys. The study found that annual income from donkey-related activities support household in the purchase of food, household items, and payment of social services (which includes education and health care cost). Housing, airtime, clothing and rent (housing cost).

From the study; Donkey owners and users, or households that own donkeys and use them for commercial (and non-commercial) purposes and bodaboda households allocate approximately 30 and 25 per cent respectively of their annual income to purchase of food. Donkey owners that hire laborers to perform donkey-related income earning activities earmarked almost 45 per cent of household income towards food purchase. Donkey laborers that earn a daily wage in exchange for driving a donkey-pulled cart allocate nearly 55 per cent of annual expenditure to the purchase of food.

With these statistics, it is evident that donkey farming is a lucrative agricultural enterprise for the youth. Kenya Network for Draught Animal Technology(KENDAT) has been at the forefront to educate young people on embracing donkey farming to enhance their livelihoods.

We have been doing this through sports and awareness on Alcohol and drug abuse as a way of motivating the young people towards embracing donkey farming, especially in Mwea and Nairobi where donkeys form an integral part of the daily activities of these towns. The government however needs to streamline the policies around donkeys as a way of inclusivity for the young generation. more
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