One in every four Kenyans is jobless – TIFA survey
By Arnold Ngure, September 11, 2025One out of every four Kenyans is unemployed, a recent opinion poll by TIFA has revealed.
The poll results released on Thursday, September 11, 2025, indicate that only a quarter of Kenyans are working full-time jobs, 23 per cent are self-employed, and 15 per cent of the population are working part-time.
The report also disclosed that 10 per cent of those interviewed were students, six per cent were homemakers taking care of their families, two per cent were temporarily laid off, while one per cent were retired.
The polls cast a grim shadow on the government’s efforts to bridge the unemployment gap in the country, even after interventions including labour mobility programmes and those in the affordable housing programme, and Nairobi River regeneration initiatives.
Saturated job market
The problem is further compounded by the hundreds of thousands of youth who enter the job market yearly, and are met with limited opportunities or a mismatch between their skills and the demands of jobs.
The Youth Enterprise Development Fund and Uwezo Fund provide affordable loans and business support services to young people and women, encouraging them to become job creators rather than job seekers.
In addition, the Ajira Digital Program is a significant effort to leverage the digital economy. It provides training and mentorship to equip young people with the skills needed for online work, creating opportunities in the gig economy and remote work.
Government interventions
The government has also introduced the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) initiative, which sets aside a percentage of government tenders for enterprises owned by youth, women, and people with disabilities, thereby stimulating business growth and employment.
While these initiatives, along with strategic projects like the affordable housing program, are designed to create a more inclusive and dynamic job market for all Kenyans, President William Ruto’s campaign promise of creating a million jobs every year has remained a pipe dream.
The findings are based on a TIFA national survey conducted between August 23 and September 3, 2025.