Airline jobs lure hundreds to city

Some of the hundreds of jobseekers applying for Qatar Airways cabin crew positions submit their CVs outside the Intercontinental Hotel on Sunday. Photo/Billy Mutai

Hundreds of youth on Sunday turned up for a job recruitment drive by Qatar Airlines.

The recruitment, which attracted hopeful youth from all over the country, disrupted normal operations at the Hotel Intercontinental, forcing security officers to chase the job-seekers away from the main gates.

The youth jammed City Hall Way and Parliament Road as they awaited their turn.

“I arrived here from Kaunei around 5:30 in the morning from Makueni and I was able to present my papers by 9am. I had applied online and was invited to appear before the panel,” said Terry Ann Mutinda.

The interviewing panel was forced to place boxes outside the main hotel entrances for the youths to drop in their applications.

“We did not expect such a big turnout. We have advised them to drop their applications outside because the numbers are overwhelming,” said one of the officers who didn’t want his name mentioned.

Hope for the best

The airline had advertised cabin crew vacancies with a tax-free remuneration package including accommodation, allowances and transportation to work.

“I don’t know if the panel will be able to go through all those applications but we hope for the best,” said Millicent Omollo a university student from Kisumu.

Some of them said the situation was sufficient proof that unemployment was a big problem.

“I gave up dropping my application after finding a long queue on arrival,” said Mohammed Abdi.

Meanwhile, National Association of Youth Enterprises secretary-general Eric Mungai on Sunday refuted a report by the Devolution Ministry claiming that Sh1.5 billion has been used to establish business projects for the youth in the country.

He alleged this was a ploy to squander the funds.

PAYE Tax Calculator

Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.