Government Exploiting Technology to Create Jobs for Youth, DP Says
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki
The government is enhancing partnership with global technology companies to create more job opportunities for the youth, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
Speaking on Tuesday when he opened Huawei LEAP Job Fair 2025 at the University of Nairobi, Kindiki said technology will play a big role in solving the world’s problems this century, hence the urgent need to tap into it.
“We have to empower young people to realise their present and future dreams. Technology must be at the heart of finding solutions to job creation and opportunities. IT companies like Huawei hold the future of young people in Kenya and around the world,” he said.
Kindiki welcomed Africa’s place in driving the technological advancements saying the average age of its population is a plus as it is the driving force needed for technological growth and advancement.
“Africa is at the centre of the future of the world because Africa is the youngest continent. The average age of the population in Africa is 19 years. Africa lies in the square of influencing the future of the world,” he noted.
He said Kenya is addressing the challenge of youth unemployment through various interventions including enabling access to digital jobs, providing training opportunities for acquisition of new digital skills through vocational training and others.
“The most acute challenge young people face in Kenya and many parts of the world is the inability to access employment, jobs and income opportunities, This is what drives young people into crime and drugs and a state of hopelessness and despair. It is not unique to Kenya and it has our immediate attention,” he said.
To address this, the DP called on strengthening of the partnership between the public and private sectors stating its benefits to the people.
The blurring of the public and private divide, DP cited, is irreversible and it is not going to change anytime soon.
“Governments have come to accept the reality that going forward as we solve our national problems we are not adequate to provide solutions. We need the private sector.
Closer ties between the public and private sector can drive Kenya’s progress faster and we can reach our desired destination earlier and with less difficulties,” DP said.