DP Kindiki: Skill gap driving youth into crime, drugs, and despair
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has linked the surging crime rate in the country to a lack of skills and opportunities.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event at the University of Nairobi, Kindiki described youth joblessness as Kenya’s “most acute challenge,” blaming the lack of skills and opportunities for driving many young people into crime, drug abuse, and despair.
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“Over 60 per cent of the unemployed population in Kenya are youth,” Kindiki said. “Many lack professional or vocational skills. This is what drives our young people into crime, drugs, and a general state of hopelessness and despair.”
The DP’s remarks set the tone for the high-profile event aimed at connecting young talent with industry opportunities. The job fair features dozens of Chinese and local companies offering real-time recruitment, career talks, and skills training.
Themed “Bridging Skills, Creating Opportunities,” the job fair includes panel sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking forums—all tailored to equip participants with digital and vocational competencies aligned to current labour market demands.
Participants also benefited from interactive sessions on coding, cybersecurity, and career growth strategies—areas where demand for skilled workers remains high. Huawei certification holders received special access to potential employers present at the fair.
According to government data, Kenya’s youth unemployment rate stands at 67 per cent, a figure that Kindiki warned could double by 2045 if not urgently addressed. The overall national unemployment rate is 12.7%, but the burden lies disproportionately on youth aged 15–34.
“This is not just an economic issue,” Kindiki noted. “It’s a national security and social stability concern.”
Promote skills uptake
He called on the private sector, development partners, and county governments to intensify efforts in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and to promote internships and apprenticeships that prepare youth for employment or entrepreneurship.
The event reflects a growing trend of public-private partnerships stepping in to tackle unemployment challenges that threaten to undermine economic progress and peace.
For thousands of young Kenyans in attendance, the job fair offered more than career prospects—it offered hope. Many described it as their first opportunity to connect directly with employers and gain insight into industry expectations.
