No one will save Kenya from its economic crisis; Invest in youth’s creativity

Youth unemployment is one of the most pressing challenge in Kenya that is projected to affect around 6.8 million youths by 2025(World Bank). In the face of the current digital revolution, investing in youth creativity presents an opportunity to address the current economic crisis. According to 2019 Census, Kenyan youth make up 75% of Kenya’s population, this is an opportunity for harnessing on demographic dividend. Empowering young people to create local solutions will address the crisis of unemployment improving on their general quality of life and promoting economic development.

The young people of Kenya have a lot of potential, but this potential is wasted because, the current systems does not allow them to thrive. What is offered in school does not fit the labor market. Amidst the digital revolution, Kenya’s labor laws do not have clauses that speaks on digital labor. Important to note is that young people have shown a lot of creativity in digital space. A conducive policy environment will allow young people to not only be consumers of digital technologies but also creators of technology.

In the current regime, His Excellency President Ruto has committed to increase export labor providing opportunities to young people, while this is a good move for expanding opportunities for young people, as a country, Kenya must shift it’s perspective. The country should invest in the potentials of young people for them to serve our people. Kenya’s youth are among its greatest natural resource, these resources must be invested in and protected. This will go a long way in reducing dependency and exploitation by developed countries.

The African Union Agenda 2063 places youth leadership at the center of the realization of an

integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. Aspiration 6 of the African Union Agenda 2063 is centered around people driven development and participation. Kenya’s vision 2030 also recognizes the role of youth in development. This affirms our collective efforts in investing in the potentials of young people for economic development.

The move to freeze USAID funding has brought debates on Kenya’s preparedness to support health, education and other sectors. There has also been dwindling funding in the last couple of years. These calls for increased domestic funding and investment in local solutions. Developing countries must seek sustainable income generating schemes for its people.

The government, private sectors and other stakeholders must come together to invest in young people. Young people are creatives and very capable, what they need is facilitation of their creativity and ideas to tangible actions. Opportunities such digital literacy, T-VET training programs, innovations hub, affordable education and others challenge young people to create local solutions for current and emerging national and global challenges. In addition to these, there is need for a conducive environment for youth start-ups to thrive, this include access to loans and reduced taxes. Kenya is capable of solving its current economic crisis, stakeholders should harness on Kenya’s demographic dividend.

Ritah Anindo Obonyo is the Executive Director of Community Voices Network.