Justina Wamae calls out politicians for failing to address youth unemployment
Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has raised alarm over the growing unemployment crisis in Kenya.
Painting a grim picture of the nation’s economic landscape, Wamae took to her X account on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to share a series of images showing empty streets of Nairobi’s Moi Avenue in the morning.
According to Wamae, Moi Avenue, a major street in Nairobi, should ordinarily be bustling with activity during weekday mornings. The eerie calm, she said, is a stark reminder of the economic hardships facing many Kenyans, especially the youth.
“This is the face of unemployment and failure of the elected and appointed politicians to influence and shape legislation and policies that increase the participatory rate of Kenyans in nation-building in a structured and organized manner,” she stated.
Wamae’s sentiments come as Kenya grapples with the high rate of unemployment among its young population. According to the Kenya Bureau of Statistics, Kenya’s unemployment rate stood at 5.7 per cent in 2023. Historically, the country’s average unemployment rate from 1991 to 2023 was 8.91 per cent.
The highest unemployment level was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009 at 12.2 per cent, while the lowest was 4.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2019.
On March 17, President William Ruto encouraged young people to take advantage of job opportunities in the Affordable Housing programme and the Nairobi River regeneration project.
“Kazi haiwezikufuata nyumbani. Lazima ujitume. Hata leo, naenda kuanzisha programme ya affordable housing ya nyumba karibu elfu tano. Mjipange hapo kwa affordable housing. Pale inahitaji engineer, plumber, mason, carpenter, electrician, watu wa mkono, na wamama wa kutengeneza chakula. Sasa wewe si uende huko ujipange na ajira,” he said.
Loosely translated as;
“You have to be proactive to get jobs. Today, I will be launching the construction of 5,000 affordable housing programme units. Be on the lookout for jobs for engineers, plumbers, masons, carpenters, errand persons, and women providing food for the labourers. Why can’t you go there and get the jobs?”
