The country could face demographic imbalances in the near future unless the government slows down campaigns of exporting young Kenyans to fill glaring shortage of labour in various parts of Europe, the Arabic world among other global industrial economic giants.
Such imbalances will be felt in the distribution of technically skilled workforce and size of families because large populations of physically active and productive youthful people will have relocated to the diaspora in search of jobs.
Close observers of the ongoing and heightened government campaigns in training young Kenyans in technical and digital aptitudes and facilitating their relocation to work in the diaspora have warned the programme’s disadvantages will be felt in years to come.
Embu based mental wellness awareness volunteer and counsellor Anna Kamanu has warned that prospective relocations of large groups comprising mainly of socially and sexually active Kenyans of both genders was ill advised.
Relocations, Kamanu feared would mean the fall in young families and the number of marriages dwindle as those affected by relocation delay marriages with others choosing to abandon the start of families.
She warned that this scenario will result to reduction in the numbers of children among couples as those who relocate embrace western lifestyles where having children or starting families is not obligatory.
More relocations, Kamanu expressed fears would increase as Kenyans in the diaspora were bound to invite and encourage relatives, colleagues and friends to relocate with assurances of greener pastures.
The observation comes at a time when thousands of technically skilled young and middle aged people in Embu County have been yearning to relocate and access employment in various countries abroad.
Recently there was registration for employment by diaspora jobs recruitment agents who offered their services in a successful recruitment drive held during a major three-day Trade Fair at the Embu, Moi Stadium.
Thousands of the diaspora job seekers stormed the venue which had more than 30 recruitment agents carrying various academic documents, passports among other requirements during which they registered with ease with the recruiters.
READ ALSO:
At the various Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, colleges and university campuses in Embu town, hundreds of young people have been studying various languages leading among them German.
Germany has been named as one of the most popular diaspora employment destinations due to glaring labour shortages recorded in the country due to an ageing population worsened by couple’s hesitance to bear children and start families.
By Robert Nyagah
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
