Kenya is staring at a ticking time bomb — youth unemployment. Thousands of graduates pour out of our universities, colleges, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions each year, only to be met by a harsh reality: a job market that is too small to absorb them and an entrepreneurship ecosystem riddled with challenges.

The streets of our cities are now filled with skilled but disillusioned young people, struggling to navigate the murky waters of employment and self-employment. It is time for State agencies, private sector players, and all relevant stakeholders to take decisive action by forging structured pathways that connect our youth to the world of work and entrepreneurship.

For far too long, institutions mandated with creating job opportunities and enhancing employability have operated in silos. Universities and TVETs churn out graduates, yet they remain disconnected from the labour market’s demands.

Government agencies such as the Public Service Commission, the National Employment Authority, and the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority have their mandates, but coordination among them is weak. Employers, on the other hand, complain of a skills mismatch, arguing that graduates are unprepared for real-world tasks. This fragmentation is the root cause of the widening gap between learning and earning.

The first step in fixing this problem is to foster a structured, collaborative framework between educational institutions and job creators. Universities and TVET institutions must not just train students but also prepare them for employment and entrepreneurship.
This means incorporating hands-on, industry-relevant training, embedding mandatory internships and apprenticeships, and fostering direct engagement with businesses. Students should graduate not just with certificates, but with skills, work experience, and networks that give them a foothold in the job market.

State agencies such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, should take a more proactive role in facilitating these linkages.

One way to do this is by establishing a national skills and employment coordination hub — an online and physical platform that bridges job seekers with employers, mentors, and financial institutions. This hub should provide real-time labour market information, job matching services, and even business incubation support for those interested in entrepreneurship.

The private sector also has a crucial role to play. Instead of lamenting the lack of adequately skilled graduates, industries should step in and co-design curricula with educational institutions.

In Germany, the dual training system allows students to split their time between school and the workplace, ensuring they graduate with practical experience. Kenya must move towards a similar model where businesses actively participate in shaping the workforce they need.

Entrepreneurship, touted as a viable solution to unemployment, remains an uphill battle for many young Kenyans. Access to capital, mentorship, and markets are major hurdles that keep many from succeeding.

While initiatives such as the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Uwezo Fund exist, they often lack adequate funding and do not offer sufficient business development support.

We need a more robust strategy that integrates TVET institutions, financial bodies, and incubation hubs to nurture young entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship training should not just be an afterthought but an integral part of every institution’s curriculum.

Moreover, policies should encourage youth to explore work opportunities beyond Kenya’s borders. Countries like the Philippines have structured labour export programs that allow skilled youth to find employment abroad while also contributing to the economy through remittances.

Kenya must leverage its skilled workforce by negotiating bilateral labour agreements and facilitating international job placements for its youth.

The time for isolated efforts and half-hearted interventions is over. We must embrace a multi-stakeholder approach that brings together government bodies, educational institutions, employers, financial institutions, and development partners.

A comprehensive national employment and entrepreneurship strategy, backed by clear policies and measurable outcomes, is urgently needed.

If we continue to leave our youth to navigate the uncertain and often ruthless world of work on their own, we risk wasting an entire generation’s potential.

The government, educational institutions, and private sector must join forces to create well-structured pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. The future of Kenya depends on it.

— The writer is a Communication Consultant