President William Ruto has raised concern over the growing number of young people attending his public meetings, saying their lack of economic opportunities should worry the government.
Ruto said he was particularly struck by the number of young people he saw during his recent visit to Kisumu, arguing that the situation showed the urgent need to create more jobs.
“If there is something that worries me as a leader, it is the number of young people that I see in our meetings,” Ruto said during a media engagement on Monday.
“Those are things that really concern me; we must think about these young people and what they will be doing for themselves.”
The President said Kenya must expand opportunities for its growing youth population, identifying agriculture and agro-processing as some of the sectors that could create jobs.
He, however, said the country must progressively move towards a service-based economy to create enough opportunities for young Kenyans.
“We can do so much with our agro-processing. Our agriculture can absorb so much, but we now progressively must move towards a service economy,” he said.
Ruto argued that Kenya has an advantage in the global services sector because of its skilled workforce, education system and widespread use of English.
He said areas such as business process outsourcing, ICT and digital services could provide employment for thousands of young people if the right infrastructure is put in place.
The President also defended his administration’s economic record, saying it had reduced inflation, stabilised the exchange rate and increased foreign exchange reserves.
Ruto said Kenyans would ultimately judge his government based on how its policies affect their lives, particularly through jobs and improved livelihoods.
His remarks come amid continued debate over youth unemployment and the government’s efforts to create sustainable opportunities for young people.
