Kenya Lags Behind East African Peers in Employment Ranking

The recent Global Youth Development Index (GYDI) for 2023 sheds light on Kenya’s position in youth employment opportunities.

While commendable efforts have been made by the Ruto administration to address unemployment, Kenya falls behind many of its East African neighbours. Although Kenya surpasses Somalia, which holds the lowest ranking, it remains eclipsed by nations like Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Even within the broader East African region, Kenya lags behind Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These rankings highlight the need for more impactful strategies to bolster Kenya’s youth job market.

Looking beyond Kenya’s immediate region, the report offers a global perspective with Ireland emerging as the world leader in providing youth employment and opportunities, followed by countries like Saint Lucia, Pakistan, Cuba, and Singapore. Despite these challenges, the GYDI report acknowledges positive developments. It says that the Employment and Opportunity domain has witnessed a significant rise of 6.1% on average from 2010 to 2022. This progress is primarily attributed to a remarkable improvement in the “account indicator score,” which reflects increased access to financial resources like bank accounts and mobile money services for young people.

This finding suggests that financial inclusion can play a crucial role in empowering Kenyan youth to pursue job opportunities. The GYDI employs a comprehensive framework to assess youth development, encompassing six key domains: education, employment, equality, health, and political participation. The meticulous selection of indicators ensures a well-rounded evaluation of youth development across participating countries. The report highlights President Ruto’s proactive approach to connecting unemployed Kenyans with international job opportunities.

Negotiations have secured employment prospects for hundreds of thousands of Kenyans in countries like Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. Additionally, the affordable housing project has generated significant direct jobs for young people, with promises of further initiatives in the pipeline. While these government actions are commendable, the GYDI rankings indicate a need for more comprehensive strategies to address Kenya’s youth employment challenges.