Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on government ministries, departments and agencies to make youth employment a measurable priority by setting clear targets in their annual performance contracts and sector plans.
Kindiki said State agencies should focus particularly on sectors with strong potential to create large numbers of jobs for young people, including agriculture, manufacturing, the digital economy, tourism and the blue economy.
Speaking on Wednesday during the 15th Development Partnership Forum held at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, Kindiki urged the government to move beyond broad commitments on youth empowerment and focus on programmes with measurable employment outcomes.
He also called on development partners and the private sector to work with the government in financing and designing programmes targeting young people.
“At the same time, I call upon development partners and the private sector to co-finance and co-design youth programmes, provide market access and mentorship to youth-led MSMEs, and support youth employment interventions,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President said Kenya’s youthful population should be treated as a key driver of economic transformation rather than merely as beneficiaries of government and donor programmes.
“Kenya is a youthful nation, and our young people are not merely beneficiaries of development programmes; they are central actors in the transformation of our economy and society,” he said.
Kindiki said development partnerships should translate into tangible opportunities for young Kenyans through employment, entrepreneurship, skills development, access to finance, innovation and participation in the digital economy.
He cited the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme as an example of government and development partners working together to support young people. According to Kindiki, the programme, which provides start-up capital, skills training, mentorship and market linkages to vulnerable youth, has reached close to one million young people in its first phase.
He said NYOTA is being expanded to target two million young people through additional financing from the World Bank and the Kenyan government.
Kindiki also highlighted the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) project, saying it is among government initiatives aimed at expanding employment opportunities. Together with NYOTA, he said the two programmes are projected to support nearly two million young Kenyans.
Other initiatives mentioned included Kazi kwa Ground, Kazi Majuu, Kazi Mtandaoni, affordable housing, Vijana Baharini and expanded enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.
The Deputy President, however, raised concern over the gap between development assistance committed by partners and funds actually disbursed and absorbed by government agencies and county governments.
“As we focus on the impact of Official Development Assistance, we must question how efficiently we absorb and utilise ODA,” Kindiki said.
He said the persistent gap between committed resources and funds disbursed and absorbed remains a concern that has repeatedly been raised at the Development Partnership Forum.
Kindiki called for greater efficiency in the utilisation of development assistance, saying resources committed to development programmes should translate into tangible results for Kenyans, particularly young people.
The forum brought together government leaders, governors, ambassadors, high commissioners, development agencies, civil society organisations and private-sector representatives to discuss youth and development.
Kindiki’s call places greater emphasis on measurable employment outcomes, with government agencies expected to demonstrate how their programmes can translate into actual opportunities for young Kenyans.
