University students say youth left out in parastatal jobs appointments

Kenya University Students Organisation (Kuso) chairman Babu Owino. He has asked the President to spare at least 20 of the 302 positions in the recent parastatal appointments for young people, saying the youth have been sidelined in the appointments for State jobs. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

By PIUS MAUNDU
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University students faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appointment of parastatal chiefs, and asked him to replace the appointees with young people.

Through the Kenya University Students Organisation (Kuso), the student leaders said that the appointments sidelined the youth and instead saw the return of aged politicians and cronies of the establishment.

Terming the appointment a “disgrace,” they asked the President to spare at least 20 of the 302 positions for them, and implored the appointees not to assume their posts.

“We want more than 20 of these positions,” Mr Babu Owino, the chairman of Kuso, told journalists at the University of Nairobi.

Mr Owino said that the government was failing in its role of providing citizens with jobs.

“To the appointees, be merciful and reject these appointment by saying: ‘We have served for many years; give this to the youth,’” said Charles Juma.

Among those the President appointed to be chairmen or board members of parastatals are Dr Richard Leakey, Mr Musikari Kombo, Mrs Margaret Saitoti, Mr Kalembe Ndile, Dr Wenwa Odinga, and popular musician Charles Njagua Kanyi.

WISDOM, EXPERIENCE AND CREATIVITY

On Monday, State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said that in the appointments the State was tapping the wisdom and experience of the seasoned and the enthusiasm and creativity of the youth.

But the student leaders read mischief in the appointments and felt that the State was condemning the youth to joblessness.

“By leaving out the youth, the government is actually creating a void in the present generation such that in future we shall lack the experience required in the job market,” said Rose Gakuo, a student leader at Laikipia University.

Ms Winnie Kivingo, a student leader at Mount Kenya University, said that as student leaders, they were capable of performing the public service posts.

And in case the move was meant to earn the Jubilee administration political clout in areas perceived as hostile, the students said that the President had erred by leaving out young people.

“When they campaigned, they berated the aged as being ‘analogue’. Why then do they bring back the aged at the expense of the youth, who are a majority?” wondered Vincent Opar of Kenyatta University.

The student leaders threatened to hold demonstrations and evict the appointees from their offices should the government fail to heed their demands “in the next 72 hours”.

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