“Bado Tuko Jobless,” Turkana Residents Raise Concern Over Unemployment of Israel-Trained Agriculture Graduates, Urge County Public Service Board to Address Their Plight
A section of residents in Turkana County has expressed concern over the continued unemployment of students who were sponsored to study Agriculture in Israel, despite their return with valuable technical and practical knowledge that could boost the county’s agricultural productivity.
The group, comprising young professionals trained under a government-sponsored exchange program, remains jobless months after completing their studies. Many have reportedly struggled to secure employment within both county and national agricultural institutions.
According to Sternly Onita, one of the concerned residents, the failure to engage these graduates represents a missed opportunity to strengthen food security and modernize the local farming sector through the application of innovative techniques acquired from Israel, a country globally recognized for its advanced agricultural systems.
“It is disheartening to learn that many of these graduates have not been absorbed into any program, allegedly because they lack powerful connections or ‘godfathers’ in leadership positions,” Onita said. “Employment should be based on competence, not personal ties.”
Observers note that the students’ expertise could play a key role in addressing challenges such as persistent drought, low yields, and overreliance on relief food in Turkana. Their skills include irrigation technology, greenhouse farming, and efficient water management, critical areas for sustainable development in the arid region.
Onita called on the Turkana County Public Service Board (TCPSB) to prioritize merit-based recruitment and create opportunities for the returnees to apply their knowledge through county projects and agricultural programs.
He urged the county administration to demonstrate transparency and fairness in employment practices, ensuring that the investment made in training these youths abroad does not go to waste.
As the push for accountability continues, Onita hope the Board will respond positively and take action to integrate the Israel-trained graduates into the local agricultural transformation agenda.
