Youth Jobs & Skills
Unlocking opportunities for young people through training, mentorship and growing industries.
The Challenge
Kenya’s youth unemployment crisis is stark – young people aged 15–34 make up 35% of the population but experience an unemployment rate as high as 67%. Many leave school without practical skills or pathways into work. Meanwhile, dynamic industries like manufacturing and logistics are expanding, but employers struggle to find skilled labour. If we don’t bridge this gap, we risk a generation left behind.
What I’m Hearing
During listening tours and community forums, young people tell us they are eager to work but lack mentorship and opportunities. Parents worry about the future for their sons and daughters, while local businesses complain that graduates are not ready for industry roles. Educators want more resources for technical training. The message is clear: skills matter as much as academic certificates.
What Good Looks Like
Across Kenya and the region, public–private partnerships are delivering results. Youth apprenticeship programmes connect training institutions directly with factories and logistics companies, guaranteeing students real work experience. Maker labs and innovation hubs nurture entrepreneurship. Community colleges and TVET centres align curricula with market needs. When industries invest in training, both productivity and employment rise.
My Contributions So Far
Sev established the Kitutu Chache Youth Enterprise Lab, providing entrepreneurship coaching, small grants and access to modern supply chains. He offers internships in his logistics and manufacturing businesses for young people from Kisii and Nairobi, with a focus on women and under‑represented groups. Through partnerships with vocational colleges, he sponsors training in areas such as warehousing, machine operation and transport management, helping graduates secure jobs in a sector that grew by 2.5% in Q3 2025.