How Dishonesty Is Locking Kenyans Out Of Job Opportunities- Ex-Azimio IT Guru

George Njoroge, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at East African Data Handlers on Friday, June 23 shared what he believed was one of the main reasons the Kenyan employment crisis is still ongoing.

In a Twitter thread, Njoroge, who was Azimio la Umoja's ICT chief and handled matters dealing with technology in the August 9, 2022, general elections, recounted his meeting with six wealthy men where he posed a question to them regarding why they were not creating job opportunities, especially for the youth in the country.

In response, one of them allegedly pointed an accusing finger at the unemployed Kenyans claiming that they were 'thieves', describing his own experience running a manufacturing and trading business.

"They burst into laughter as if I have said something funny, then one said 'The people shouting no food and jobs are all thieves!!' I was like really!! He continued……”I run a manufacturing business and a trading business.

East African Data Handlers. Group MD and CEO, George Njoroge. /THE INFORMER

"The biggest challenge in my manufacturing business is not Kenya's power or infrastructure, the biggest challenge is getting honest workers," he wrote.

Njoroge further explained that his fellow bosses hire prospects who appear to be on a mission to steal as much as possible from the company, referring to inflated voices, recording less than the actual number of units produced, among ways he claimed they find in their power to beat the system. 

He further revealed that most of the fraud uncovered is committed by a group of staff who collude with each other across all departments; from production to sales, to finance, and even top management. 

"There was a year I overhauled management 3 times in a year. But I've found a solution. I now use Indian expatriate management. They are more competent, so honest and so straightforward. 

"I thought they were expensive at first with all the visa fees, accommodation, and house staff, but now that losses due to staff theft have been reduced to a minimum, and efficiency increased, the Indian management has turned out to be cheaper than the previous African management," he went on.

Since that move, he noted that he allocated sensitive positions to the Indian employees, leaving the Africans with non-sensitive positions, further sympathising with indigenous Kenyan companies which hire so many Indians at the expense of their fellow citizens.

Njoroge shared that his biggest challenge in the trading business is getting honest staff, a form of trading he adds occurs in the open market and involves staff having access to huge sums of money running into a few millions of shillings. 

"I know how much I pay to security companies to provide escorts for the staff, not to prevent robbery, but to ensure that the staff go straight to the bank to deposit the money after the day's sales and not disappear with my money.

"This money spent on security companies is even enough to be declared as profit. We have to spend on CCTV, biometric scanners and other things that wouldn't be needed if staff weren't looking for the slightest opportunity to steal," he went on.

He noted that the situation worsened to the point that he made honesty his main criterion for employing staff over the likes of competency, certificates and skills which can be learnt over time.

Njoroge then revealed why some investors abroad are hesitant in setting up businesses in Kenya, citing a lack of trust.

"We always complain about the economy and how there are no jobs. I know people abroad who would have loved to set up job-creating businesses in Kenya or across different African countries but they can't because they can't get any trustworthy person to run it

"I know people in Kenya with so much money, they want to start factories and other job-creating businesses but they can't because they are occupied elsewhere and can't get any trustworthy person to run these businesses. So instead of investing in the real economic sectors and creating jobs, they'll just opt to buy treasury bills, while the thieves are shouting no jobs and foodstuffs too expensive," he added.

He reiterated that the dishonesty that was barring efforts to address the unemployment crisis was the same deterring African organisations from contributing towards the growth of the continent and the creation of millions of jobs.

"Many big businesses would have been born in Kenya or East Africa if we could engage in partnerships, but we can’t because you can't trust anyone. Start a poultry farm and they will be stealing your eggs. Some will even go ahead to be killing the chickens so that they'll be allowed to take them home.

"Start an Events entertainment company or tourism ticketing or even gaming centre at your village shopping centre and they'll be pocketing your money and diverting your potential customers elsewhere," he went on.

He argued that profits increase by 10 times when a business owner is within the presence of his firm compared to when he is away from his firm, adding that "Because they're eating your money and eating their future."

"Buy and lease out a vehicle to a driver to use and watch as he'll finish you completely and your vehicle is actioned by the bank. Start a restaurant, the same thing will happen. More than half of the total food ingredients will end up in their personal kitchens," he continued.

Njoroge opined that even attendants in ordinary kiosks, or village supermarkets will find a way to steal from the small investors, referring to some local supermarkets which had crippled businesswise owing to employee theft. 

"You'll see every employee quote their evil mantra, i.e. the wicked saying "That a person eats where they work." Just imagine, justifying theft at work, killing their own jobs and the development of the business. And you'll see these people point their crooked fingers at politicians when they're not any different. 

"I usually say the reason most Kenyans haven't stolen billions of government money, is simply because of lack of the opportunity. The few honest Kenyans, both in government and the private sector, are looked upon as stupid people," he continued.

Njoroge concluded by calling for honesty to be taught to pupils and students as part of the Kenyan school curriculum for businesses to thrive successfully.

Both his Twitter statements amassed over 997,100 views cumulatively and triggered mixed reactions, with several netizens alleging that the dishonesty was a result of poor working conditions and low pay, among others.