Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has emphasized the urgent need for innovation and creativity in tackling the growing number of unemployed youths in Kenya. Speaking during a technical briefing on interventions in critical agricultural value chains, Kindiki noted that while over 800,000 young people enter the job market annually, the country can only provide 200,000 jobs, leaving a staggering deficit of 600,000 jobless youths every year.
“The economy has been absorbing only 200,000 graduates annually, meaning that 600,000 remain without income opportunities. The country must be innovative to mitigate against this increasing bulge of unemployed youths,” he stated.
Kindiki underscored that job creation is a key pillar of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which the Kenya Kwanza administration is spearheading to address this crisis. Various government agencies and state departments are implementing initiatives to create job opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
The Deputy President highlighted several job creation strategies, including short-term, long-term, and permanent employment opportunities. Digital job creation has also been prioritized, with an increasing focus on leveraging technology to generate online work. Additionally, the labour mobility programme, which facilitates Kenyans to secure employment abroad, has been launched as a crucial intervention to ease the domestic job market strain.
“This agenda of job creation carries onboard many programmes across different government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). We are implementing initiatives that support employment creation through both state and private sector collaborations,” Kindiki explained.
The Deputy President reiterated the government’s commitment to improving value chains in critical economic sectors that sustain the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans. Agriculture, fisheries, and mining were highlighted as key areas where the government is focusing its efforts to boost employment opportunities.
As Kenya continues to grapple with youth unemployment, the need for a multifaceted approach involving state interventions, private sector participation, and innovative solutions remains paramount. Kindiki’s remarks reaffirm the government’s dedication to fostering sustainable employment opportunities and ensuring that young people have access to meaningful economic engagement.
