Kenya has formally taken over the chairmanship of the Jobs for Youth in Africa (JfYA) Community of Practice from Rwanda, a move aimed at accelerating youth employment and economic opportunities across the continent.

The handover was marked at the Knowledge Exchange Summit held in Nairobi on Wedneday, March 4, 2026, bringing together African leaders, development partners, and youth representatives.

During the ceremony, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya emphasised that Kenya intends to focus on results-driven initiatives rather than mere dialogue.

CS Mvurya expressed pride in Kenya’s new role while underlining the government’s commitment to measurable action for African youth employment.

“On behalf of the Government of Kenya, I am deeply honored to formally accept the Chairmanship of the Jobs for Youth in Africa Community of Practice. Kenya assumes this responsibility with humility, clarity of purpose, and unwavering commitment. We pledge to shift our collective focus firmly toward delivery, accountability, and results,” he stated.

He highlighted the importance of continental coordination to address the urgent youth employment gap, stressing that Africa’s demographic reality demands practical action from all member states.

“Investment in Africa’s young people is not merely a social intervention, it is the engine of economic growth, the anchor of stability, and the foundation of long-term cohesion across our continent. When we empower youth with skills, opportunity, and access to markets, we unlock Africa’s demographic dividend and transform it into productive capital,” CS Mvurya noted.

The Cabinet Secretary pointed to Kenya’s existing youth-focused programs as a model for other countries seeking scalable solutions.

“Through the NYOTA program, Digital Jobs Agenda (Kazi Mtandaoni), Affordable Housing, Climate X and other legacy projects, thousands of young people are being trained, mentored and onboarded into public spaces and online work, business process outsourcing, and digital entrepreneurship, contributing to approximately 1,807,000 jobs created through public sector expansion and flagship interventions,” he outlined.

CS Mvurya reiterated that Kenya’s tenure as chair would emphasize transparency, inclusivity, and evidence-based approaches, ensuring that youth empowerment translates into measurable economic outcomes.

“Investment in Africa’s young people is not merely a social programme, it is economic growth, stability, and cohesion across our continent. When we empower youth with skills, enterprise support, and access to markets, we transform Africa’s demographic dividend into productive capital,” he further stressed.

Kenya also committed to strengthening peer learning, harmonizing standards, and leveraging data-driven accountability to guide youth employment policies across the continent, signaling a year of ambitious and action-focused leadership.

The high-level summit drew officials including Ndiamé Diop, Regional Vice President of the World Bank for Eastern and Southern Africa; Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs; representatives from African Member States; development partners; private sector leaders; and youth delegates from across Africa.