Kenya’s Youth Unemployment Drops to 15.8% Amid Government Job Programs

Kenya’s youth unemployment rate fell to 15.8% in Q4 2023—the lowest in five years—driven by public works, digital jobs, and TVET-linked apprenticeships. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) attributed the decline to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which created 320,000 jobs in 2023 through programs like Ajira Digital and Kazi Mtaani. Over 120,000 graduates were placed in private sector internships via the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP). However, underemployment remains high, with 28% of youth in vulnerable informal work. The government aims to cut youth joblessness to 10% by 2027 through expanded industrial parks and startup grants. Experts urge better alignment between education curricula and market needs.