CS Mutua urges Garissa youth to Change mindset on blue collar jobs as 2,500 register for overseas jobs

Labour CS Alfred Mutua has challenged the youth in Garissa to change their mindset on blue collar jobs if they are to make it in life.

Mutua said that there was a shortage of skills worldwide, which is why his ministry has been bust recruiting job seekers with the required skills for oversees jobs.

Speaking at the Garissa University during the County Job Fair and Exhibition 2025, CS Mutua said that while the government was committed to addressing the alarming unemployment rate in the country, the youth in the area must be willing to embrace skilled training.

“We must change our mindset following the shift in the labor market; it’s not a matter of chasing a university degree that will not help you get job opportunities; let’s encourage our youth to join technical colleges for skills that will offer them self-employment and source job opportunities abroad,” he said.

“If you have the skills of a butcher, you are securing a job at a butchery that sells Halal meat in some of these countries. And so as leaders, parents, and the community at large, we need to talk to our children and specifically the youth and defuse this notion that the only way to earn a living is by getting a white collar job,” he said.

He announced that the government has secured more than 2,000 job opportunities for Garissa youth with technical skills in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany.

He warned Kenyans working abroad against rogue attitude that dents the image of the country.

The CS further regretted that some countries complained against Kenyan employees who were actively involved in organising demonstrations over petty issues.

Mutua also condemned recruitment agencies for exploiting Kenyans.

He said the government has directed recruitment agencies to refund fees for all unsuccessful applicants to ensure they were not exploited for services that were not offered.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama called for consideration of all applicants who registered for the overseas jobs.

He decried over the massive unemployment rate in the county and the negative attitude by the majority of the youth to gain skilled courses offered at the vocational training colleges.

He said the current shortage of skills is a result of many youth having their eyes fixed on office jobs.

Jama said the government has invested heavily in TVETS, and it is unfortunate that the youth still shy away from them.

“It worries me that despite the huge investment in technical training institutes, our numbers remain very low. As a community, we need to change our mindset that the only gainful employment can come from white-collar jobs. The reality is that those jobs are fast diminishing,” he said.

More than 2500 youth in Garissa County registered for overseas jobs during the job fair and exhibition event.

The event was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and implemented by the National Employment Authority, among other stakeholders.

The majority of the unemployed youth who registered carried driving licenses and school certificates, while others registered for nursing, cleaners, home care, and plumbing opportunities, among others.

Dayib Abdi Aden, who was among the youth who registered for a driving carrier overseas job opportunity, expressed hope that they will be considered to uplift their livelihoods.

“I have been seeking a job opportunity for three years, but in vain. I came here to try my luck following the announcement made by the CS Alfred Mutua."

Hafsa Mohamed, a nurse who completed her Diploma in Nursing course at Garissa Medical College but could not get a job opportunity, similarly expressed hope that an overseas job opportunity would change her status.