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Are lending policies favoring youths in Kenya

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Are lending policies favoring youths in Kenya
Michelle Ntalami - Founder, Marini Naturals. Photo/Bizna Kenya.

In recent years Kenya’s business growth has been robust with over 65% of youths seeking jobs making it into business. But some don’t understand the importance of financial advisors. In some business, it requires business financial advisors with a view of expert guidance.

With a lot of desperation from youth who are looking for capital to start a business. They opt for loans from microfinance loans and other lending agencies. Some are using their phones to access loans through digital mobile platforms.

According to information, 80% of university and college students are now listed with credit reference bureau CRB, this has caused a lot of untold suffering to job seekers in the country. Also, the grace period for higher education’s loans board reduced barely a year before one can start to repay.

Are lending policies favoring youths in Kenya
mobile apps loans among youths in the country have increased with a good percentage being listed on CRB something that has denied them employment opportunity according to regulations

Kenyan youth is likely to land into employment crisis with the kind of lending policies that we have unless reviewed. A graduate in Kenya is required to look for clearance certificates from nearly 10 agencies.

For example, one is required to clear with Higher education’s loans Board Helb, Criminal investigation department for good conduct, Credit reference bureau CRB, Kenya revenue authority KRA, and birth registration documents which one still needs to produce before he could be hired.

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I once heard of a case where 20 people qualified for some vacancies that had required eight employees after a successful interview, and because they wanted 10 they asked for Clearance papers from CRB to their surprise only three had the papers so the 17 lost their chances.

It is very difficult for a fresh graduate to give out Ksh. 10,000 for clearance certificates just before one could be hired. In fact, the government should abolish some of these agencies if they truly are fighting for youths of this country.

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Mobile lending apps have registered a big number of those listed with CRB but to my point of view they should be the one to blame for quick access to their finance, one would ask why should a large number of youths listed by CRB while the government remains mum about it. Does the government has any secret behind youth predicaments, is the government using the lending apps and the CRB as an excuse to deny the growing number of youths employment?

Are lending policies favoring youths in Kenya
president Uhuru Kenyatta has always been with youth agenda at heart, during his first term in Office his administration signed 30% youth tendering bill into law, this could see youths being awarded 30% of government tenders to youths, but this could not succeed because of harsh lending policies in Kenya

During the KCB 2jiajiri project a program that seeks to empower youths with skills that will create jobs for themselves. President Uhuru Kenyatta called on youths to engage on meaningful projects and make money without necessarily engaging in corruption. KCB 2jiajiri seeks to address a number of issues self-employment being one of them.

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With this rate of youths entering into CRB books, it will be difficult for youths to access loans and eventually gain self-employment. Therefore the government should revise lending policy and create favorable conditions for youths to create employment to themselves and others, again issues of clearance for graduates before they could be employed.