Engaging young people enriches institutions and processes. If we take just one critical aspect of empowering the youth, either through skills or economically, we not only engage them in creating sustainable economic solutions for themselves and their dependants, but we also elevate our competitiveness and productivity as a country. 

The youth in Kenya account for about 75 per cent of Kenya’s population, according to the World Bank. However, they are not adequately enabled to participate in our country’s social, economic, and political development. Yet, our youth are vibrant and highly creative. There are many reasons for this, some are unemployment, under-employment, lack of skills and lack of necessary institutional support to bring their ideas to fruition. 

As we focus on realising our development goals including Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we must outline the role of the youth in realising these goals and deliberately engage them, politically, socially and even economically. 

Let us take the case of the manufacturing sector. The changing nature of the workplace and the increasing number of industries embracing the 4th Industrial Revolution, calls for tech-savviness and innovation, which the youth are leaders in. As such, we need to upskill young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) to build their capacity to create and sustain productive jobs. 

Locally, the government has recognised the need for a strong linkage between training institutions and industry to become industrialised.  

Vision 2030 proposed interventions under the Youth Skills Development Flagship, some of which include the establishment of youth development centres, development of creative industry hubs, the establishment of Biashara Kenya Enterprise Parks and development of an incentive framework for employers who hire fresh graduates and have internship programs for college students. 

At Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), we are keen on encouraging young people to stand out and identify opportunities that will shape today and the future, including through technology-based solutions and promoting sustainable environmental solutions such as clean energy, green economy and circular economy for sustainability. 

Since 2017, we have partnered with GIZ to implement the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project, to promote youth employment through skills development.  Additionally, we have piloted a Cooperative Vocational Training (CVT) model that offers a holistic approach to the skills agenda, by encouraging stronger collaboration between training institutions and industry to influence curriculum development. 

Through these programs, we have seen youth take up internships in various industries, with a significant number being employed permanently. We have also seen young graduates gain hands-on experience, where they have gained relevant competencies through our work readiness trainings that equip them with both work and life skills. 

Our TVET programme has also encouraged more young women to take up STEM courses and venture into manufacturing-related jobs, inspired by seasoned professionals in the sector. Previously, the number of young women venturing into this sector was small, compared to their male counterparts. 

The Association also established the KAM SME Hub to nurture entrepreneurs, the majority of whom are young people. The Hub provides strategic leadership and support to Manufacturing SMEs towards inclusivity and global competitiveness. 

Our vision is to see young people access quality skills, decent work and entrepreneurship opportunities. This is because the youth are and will always be strategic players in our growth and development. We must, therefore, empower them to be part and parcel of our goals as we look to ensure the sustainability of industry in the country. 

—The writer is the CEO of Kenya Association of Manufacturers—[email protected]