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Ruto dares opposition to reveal their youth empowerment plan
17th July, 2025 04:05 PM
President William Ruto has challenged his political competitors to publicly present their plans for addressing youth unemployment, accusing them of inciting unrest instead of offering solutions.
Taking to X on Thursday, July 17, 2025, the President said his administration has implemented a credible plan for job creation targeting young people. According to Ruto, the government’s labour mobility programme has already absorbed 400,000 youth, while the affordable housing project has provided jobs for 320,000. An additional 200,000 have been engaged through the green jobs-focused Climate WorX programme.
“We challenge our competitors to lay bare their plan for empowering our youth. It is a fact: We have a solid and credible plan on youth employment. Our labour mobility has absorbed 400,000 of our young people, and the affordable housing 320,000. Our Climate WorX programme has employed 200,000 young people,” Ruto stated.
Speaking during the commissioning of the rehabilitated Bridge Savannah-Stage 17-Masimba Road, which links Embakasi Central and Embakasi East, the president emphasised that Kenya’s transformation cannot be achieved through chaos and political incitement.
“The alternative plan in the transformation of Kenya cannot be inciting young people to cause havoc in the country,” he said.
Ruto also inspected the progress of the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Project in Dandora, Embakasi West. He said the initiative, which is part of Kenya Vision 2030, has created 20,000 job opportunities for young people in Nairobi, with an additional 20,000 set to begin work next Monday. The project aims to clean up the river and convert it into a recreational site through partnerships with private sector players.
According to the president, the combined job creation efforts under his administration have so far benefited more than 920,000 young Kenyans.
His remarks come as the country grapples with a 67 per cent youth unemployment rate, according to the Federation of Kenya Employers. The government is also under pressure to fulfill its 2022 campaign promises, following public outcry and recent Gen Z-led protests against the Finance Bill. The July 11 cabinet reshuffle was partly seen as a response to the growing unrest.
As the political debate intensifies, the opposition faces increasing pressure to present an alternative youth employment strategy.
