Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has poured cold water on the Kenya Kwanza Administration’s newly launched national job portal, dismissing it as an unnecessary and ineffective tool in tackling unemployment.

In a strongly worded statement posted on her official X account on Friday, August 15, 2025, Wamae described the launch as something that doesn’t solve issues of unemployment.

“unnecessary, a waste of creativity and public resources, a lack of fresh perspective and an indication that Kenya Kwanza solutions to the problems facing Kenyans are rudimentary to say the least,” she stated

She questioned the government’s priorities in rolling out the portal, saying, “Clearly, the bar is too low, but do Kenyans want more? I doubt!” She questioned

Wamae argued that the root cause of unemployment lies in Kenya’s economic environment and not in the absence of platforms to connect job seekers to employers. She turned to economics to make her case, citing the law of supply and demand to explain why she believes the portal is a cosmetic solution.

“Unfavourable factors of production lead to a decrease in jobs/opportunities created, hence affecting the supply of jobs whilst demand for the jobs/opportunities increases, leading to unemployment and underemployment,” she said.

According to her, the reverse is also true:

“Conversely, favourable factors of production lead to an increase in the supply of jobs/opportunities while the demand for the jobs is satisfied, hence a decrease in unemployment and underemployment, which leads to an increase in the Labour force participation rate,” she stated

Wamae stressed that the balance between job creation and availability depends entirely on the interplay between these favourable and unfavourable conditions.

“This interplay between favourable and unfavourable factors of production determines the supply and demand of jobs in the economy of Kenya,” she explained.

Her proposed remedy focuses on structural reforms rather than digital tools. “Create a conducive environment for businesses and jobs/opportunities to thrive by Ordering the Disorder in the Factors of Production, and the job market will autocorrect without unnecessarily launching a portal,” she said.

The government, which has touted the portal as a modern solution to link job seekers with available opportunities, is facing growing scepticism from some quarters. Critics such as Wamae argue that unless issues like high taxes, expensive energy, and limited access to capital are addressed, unemployment will persist despite technological initiatives.

Wamae’s remarks add a fresh voice to the ongoing public conversation on Kenya’s unemployment crisis, highlighting the widening gap between policy announcements and the realities faced by millions of jobless citizens.