Thousands of Kenyan jobseekers have received "Not Successful" notifications from the Public Service Commission (PSC) as the body continues to process a large volume of applications submitted earlier this year.
A review of the PSC recruitment portal reveals intense competition for government positions, with some vacancies attracting tens of thousands of applicants for only a handful of openings.
Extremely Low Success Rates Across Positions
- The Gender Officer II role had 28 vacancies but attracted 24,685 applications, equating to a success rate of just 0.11%.
- Cohesion Officer II saw 21,012 applicants competing for 20 spots, resulting in a 0.095% success rate.
- Public Communications Officer II had 18 positions with 4,332 applicants, with only 0.42% expected to be successful.
- Other positions recorded similarly low chances, with some vacancies receiving over 4,000 applications for fewer than five roles.
Youth Unemployment Intensifies Demand
The surge in applications highlights the severe youth unemployment crisis in Kenya, where approximately 35% of the population is aged 15 to 34 but faces unemployment rates near 67%, far exceeding the national average.
Each year, over one million young Kenyans enter the labour market, many lacking the necessary skills or opportunities to secure suitable employment.
One applicant, Alice, shared her experience: "Since graduating in 2021, I have struggled to secure a permanent PSC job despite completing an internship. Seeing my application marked 'Not Successful' is disheartening, but I remain hopeful."
Guidance for Applicants
The PSC recruitment process involves an initial eligibility review, followed by interviews for shortlisted candidates, and document verification before final appointments are announced.
Applicants marked "Not Successful" are encouraged to keep monitoring the PSC portal, carefully review job requirements, and ensure timely submission of all necessary documents for future opportunities.
