Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing the persistent issue of youth unemployment, noting it as a long-standing challenge dating back to independence.
Speaking at Gachie Primary School in Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County, during an Economic Empowerment Engagement event, Kindiki outlined a multi-pronged strategy aimed at creating job opportunities for the youth across various sectors.
“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 stated.
Among the highlighted initiatives is a significant boost in teacher recruitment, with Kindiki revealing that 76,000 teachers have been employed over the last two and a half years. He added that an additional 24,000 teachers are expected to be hired by December 2025.
The Deputy President also emphasised the role of the Affordable Housing Programme in job creation, noting that it has generated approximately 300,000 jobs for young Kenyans across the country.
“This programme not only provides decent housing but also acts as a critical employment engine for our youth,” he said.
To further expand employment opportunities, Kindiki announced the establishment of ICT hubs aimed at enabling more Kenyans to access online jobs.
He also confirmed the return of the Kazi Mtaani programme, which had previously been halted, stating that it will resume later this month.
Initially launched by former President Uhuru Kenyatta during the COVID-19 pandemic to cushion unemployed youth, the Kazi Mtaani programme was paused in 2022 as the Ruto administration prioritised the Affordable Housing agenda.
However, the government now plans to reintroduce it as a complementary measure alongside other youth empowerment projects.
In a move to support labour migration, Kindiki said the Youth Enterprise Fund has been directed to assist young people seeking jobs abroad.
This includes financial support for air tickets, passports, and medical insurance, ensuring that lack of funds does not become a barrier to securing overseas employment.
"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," he affirmed.
Kindiki stressed that the journey to solving youth unemployment will be gradual but consistent.
“Step by step, the government will continue reducing the number of young people who do not have jobs,” he said.
Youth unemployment remains one of Kenya’s most pressing socio-economic issues, with thousands of graduates entering a saturated job market each year.