Kenya Launches Initiative Expected To Create 1 Million Jobs For Youth

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_101839" align="alignnone" width="900"] DP Rigathi Gachagua launching KYEEAP in Nairobi[/caption] The Kenyan government in partnership with the private sector on Monday launched an entrepreneurship program that aims to create one million jobs in a period of one year. The Kenya Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (K-YEEAP) initiative was launched in Nairobi by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA). The program will provide training in business, technology, and finance to Kenyans under the age of 35. It will also directly employ several young people who will be absorbed into the service. Speaking at the event, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lauded the business community for partnering with the government to solve the high unemployment rate in the country. “As a government, we will provide the necessary support to take the youth closer to their collective dream of a better future. This fund and the partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance will go a long way towards giving the youth an equal chance at life," said Gachagua. On his part, KEPSA CEO Kui Kariuki said the programme will leverage on technology and digital transformation. "We all know that the youth were largely involved in the clashes of the post-election violence of 2007/2008. As the private sector, we sat together and agreed to provide solutions, and this is how the youth agenda was birthed," said Kariuki. KEPSA urged Kenyans under the age of 35 to apply for training and employment opportunities on their website, kepsa(dot)or. ke. Applicants must have completed secondary school and have no pending criminal records. According to the Kenya Bureau of Statistics and other economic reports, youth unemployment in Kenya is estimated to be 38.9%, with an estimated 800,000 young people graduating from universities and other higher learning institutions each year.