“Huyu akijenga hio ICT hub, mimi nitahakikisha iko computer. Na nitahakikisha iko Internet. Na nimepanga ajira ya hawa vijana kufanya iyo kazi. Nyinyi vijana wa hapa kazi yenyu ni mbili… Ku appear huko kufundishwa, na kufinya computer uweke dollar mfukoni,” he said.
While sounding confident of his suggestion, the President buttressed the idea, telling the youth that the task was really simple and that he wouldn’t save them any further if they couldn’t simply pull it off.
“Wewe utashindwa kufinya computer ndio upate pesa? Na wewe sasa ukishindwa kufinya computer nitakusaidia namna gani?” he asked.
The short video, which was shared online by Citizen Digital, quickly gathered hundreds of reactions with many people left thunderstruck by the President’s seemingly simplistic approach to unemployment especially in such a remote area of the country.
Many people were unable to see the practicality of simply pressing a couple of keys on a computer and magically earning dollars. Others found the suggestion, at best, utterly ridiculous.
“Someone close sold him the remotasks and writing idea without telling him that these freelancers usually quote their best day/week. Also, these dudes who claim to make $3000 a month don’t even look like dudes who make $30 dollars, leave alone $3000. Jamaa anapewa pressure na watoto wa campus anaenda kudanganya watu Bungoma,” one X user said.
“So, which way, Kenyan youth? Is it affordable housing? Is it mjengo? Is it flying to Saudi Arabia for nursing jobs? Is it pressing computers? What is it? It’s shocking that the President of the Republic of Kenya is so downright clueless on how to create a damn job!” another noted.
On her part, X user Gathoni Njeri said, “I’m surprised this man sees the memes we create and the decides to act on it. A country’s joblessness cannot be solved by remotask! Surely, this cannot be the only brain the President has because if that’s the case, then we are cooked!”
The Remotask talk dominated most of the comments shared by dismayed Kenyans gobsmacked by the President’s superficial idea.
Mid-January, a Kenyan named Brian Kipchumba trended online after he told President Ruto how Kenyan remotask users earn Ksh. 26k weekly from the Remotask website.
Kipchumba, pursuing a diploma course in ICT at Kaiboi Polytechnic, took time to take the head of state through his success story through freelance digital jobs.
According to Kipchumba, the platform gives him various tasks with a set timeline for completion and submission.
Kipchumba revealed that he operates a remotask account, which enables him to perform his online tasks: “I want to show you my success through the digital platforms. I have been working online since December 26, 2023, until now. As you can see, the total amount of money I have earned is US$284 (KSh 45,000). Minus the taxes, you get like KSh 40,000,” he said.
It was then that President Ruto asked him, “You mean minus?” amid laughter from his delegation.
Remotask is an online site that pays visitors to complete data entry tasks including copywriting, and Al development, among other evaluation-related opportunities.
It’s not yet clear if these are the kind of computerised jobs the President appeared to be suggesting to the youth of Bungoma.
