Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the enduring challenge of youth unemployment, describing it as a historical issue that dates back to Kenya’s independence.
Speaking at Gachie Primary School in Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County, during an Economic Empowerment Engagement event, Kindiki acknowledged the growing number of unemployed youth and outlined a multi-faceted approach to tackle the problem.
“Every year, we have more and more young people who do not have jobs, and that is why we have three or four programmes geared towards reducing the number of youth without employment,” Kindiki said.
A key pillar in the strategy is the expansion of employment opportunities in education. Kindiki revealed that 76,000 teachers have been hired over the last two and a half years, with a further 24,000 expected to be recruited by December 2025. He also pointed to the Affordable Housing Programme as a major job generator, having created an estimated 300,000 jobs for young Kenyans.
“This programme not only provides decent housing but also acts as a critical employment engine for our youth,” he added.
In the digital sector, Kindiki announced the creation of ICT hubs to increase access to online job opportunities, especially for tech-savvy youth. Furthermore, the government will relaunch the Kazi Mtaani programme later this month. Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the initiative was paused in 2022 but is now being revived as part of a broader youth empowerment agenda.
To facilitate labour migration, the Deputy President stated that the Youth Enterprise Fund will support young people seeking jobs abroad by covering essential expenses such as air tickets, passports, and medical insurance.
“The government is determined to ensure that no youth misses out on a job opportunity whether locally or abroad simply because they cannot afford basic documentation or travel costs,” Kindiki affirmed.
He concluded by stressing that while solving youth unemployment will take time, the government is committed to making consistent progress.
“Step by step, the government will continue reducing the number of young people who do not have jobs,” he said.
