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The government has unveiled initiatives aimed at tackling youth unemployment.

Programmes are intended to boost employment and entrepreneurship in a direct response to the alarming joblessness rate among young people, said Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

“The statistics are staggering: 80 percent of the unemployed population in Kenya are young people. Each year, between 500,000 and 800,000 young individuals enter the job market, far outstripping the economy’s ability to provide sufficient employment opportunities,” Murkomen said.

“This has resulted in a labour force participation rate of just 38 percent among those aged 15 to 24, threatening our social and economic stability.”

Sports talent

His remarks were delivered on his behalf by Principal Secretary Ismail Maalim Madey during International Youth Day celebrations at the Swahilipot Hub in Mombasa.

Among the key initiatives is Talanta Hela, which is designed to identify, nurture, and showcase young talent in sports and the creative industries. This initiative, the CS said, offers a lifeline for the youth, helping them break free from the shackles of poverty and unemployment.

Furthering these efforts, a project called National Youth Opportunities towards Advancement (NYOTA), which will replace the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP). 

The new project will directly benefit 810,000 vulnerable young people aged 18-29, extending up to age 35 for people with disabilities.

“This initiative targets those with a Form Four level education or below, who find themselves at the lowest rungs of the economic and social ladder due to limited access to government programmes,” Murkomen said.

Youth platforms

National Youth Council acting CEO Margret Kiogora encouraged young people to engage actively with youth platforms and influence policies that impact their lives.

“I urge the youth to seize these platforms, whether at the county or national level, to explore the opportunities available,” she said, calling on young Kenyans to actively participate in shaping the future of the National Youth Council.

Youth Advisory Board chairperson Sophie Waliaula echoed those sentiments, urging the youth to continue voicing their ideas and aspirations through the National Youth Council.

Social media

“The youth have been vocal in expressing their ideas, and we encourage them to keep doing so. We are accessible on all social media platforms and welcome all ideas. We want the youth to step up and claim their space,” Waliaula said, while also encouraging the adoption of technology in all youth endeavours.

Murkomen highlighted the transformative power of digital technology, noting that it has revolutionised how people connect, collaborate and create.

Mobile technology

“Today’s youth, who have grown up with the internet, social media, and mobile technology, are at the forefront of this transformation,” he observed.

“Your innovative use of these tools – whether in coding, digital marketing or content creation – demonstrates how technology can address critical global challenges such as climate change, education access and human rights.