Kindiki blames deep-rooted historical challenges for unemployment crisis

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has attributed Kenya’s youth unemployment crisis to deep-rooted historical challenges, saying the issue has persisted since the country gained independence.

Speaking on Sunday, July 13, 2025, during an Economic Empowerment Engagement event at Gachie Primary School in Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County, Kindiki said that while the challenge remains immense, the Kenya Kwanza government is steadily rolling out long-term strategies to address it.

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“Youth unemployment is not a new problem. It began long before this administration and dates back to independence. That’s why we must approach it with long-term, multi-sectoral strategies,” Kindiki said.

He highlighted several ongoing initiatives aimed at tackling joblessness, especially among the youth.

One of the government’s top interventions is the education sector recruitment. According to Kindiki, 76,000 teachers have already been hired in the past two and a half years, with another 24,000 expected to be employed by December 2025.

Beyond classrooms, the deputy president pointed to the Affordable Housing Programme as a key driver of employment.

“This programme not only provides decent housing but also acts as a critical employment engine for our youth,” he added. The housing project has so far created an estimated 300,000 jobs.

To widen access to digital opportunities, Kindiki announced the establishment of ICT hubs across the country.

Kazi Mtaani

He also confirmed that the government will revive the Kazi Mtaani programme later this month. Initially launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme was paused in 2022 to focus on other priorities.

Kindiki noted that Kazi Mtaani will now run alongside other youth-focused employment projects. Additionally, the Youth Enterprise Fund has been directed to assist Kenyans seeking jobs abroad with travel costs and documentation support.

“The government is determined to ensure that no youth misses out on a job opportunity, whether locally or abroad, simply because they cannot afford basic documentation or travel costs,” he said.

Acknowledging the scale of the crisis, Kindiki urged patience: “The journey to ending unemployment won’t happen overnight, but step by step, we will reduce the number of young people without jobs.”