Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua addresses job seekers at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre following a mass recruitment drive for Qatari companies.
This week, the World Resources Institute unveiled its take on the biggest story to watch in 2025: climate finance - that is, money destined for climate action. This at its core is the promise of quality jobs. Quite frankly quality job creation must be a moral imperative — because it’s not just about providing work, but about creating opportunities that are meaningful, sustainable, and transformative. They empower individuals with dignity, stability, and the chance to grow. They strengthen communities by reducing poverty and building lasting resilience. These jobs hold the power to reshape the world as we know it.
In sharp contrast to this promise, in the first month of this year alone we are faced with the stories that are disrupting jobs globally in real-time — the escalating violence in North Kivu and its surroundings, displacing an estimated 400,000 people in Eastern DRC, and on the other side of the world the gutting of USAID, the world’s largest provider of international development assistance to name just two. So many lives and livelihoods, local and international, upended in unbearable ways. These events also serve as stark reminders of the interconnected challenges we face and the urgent need for bold, collective action to secure a just and sustainable future for all.
The unsettling events of the past weeks have made me reflect deeply on the pain of job loss and its far-reaching impact on individuals, families, and communities. Each job lost is not just a statistic; it represents dreams deferred, financial insecurity, and a sense of purpose stripped away, often leaving emotional scars that ripple through households and society at large. Yet perhaps even more troubling is the persistent absence of jobs for so many in Kenya and beyond — a stark reminder of the systemic challenges we face in creating opportunities for all. This lack of employment doesn’t just erode livelihoods, it undermines hope, deepens inequality, and weakens the social fabric that binds us together.
In Africa, a significant portion of the unemployed are young people. It’s estimated that 60 per cent of Africa’s unemployed active labor force consists of youth aged 15-24. Youth unemployment rates average above 20 per cent, some soaring as high as 70-80 per cent in some countries. This crisis is intensified by insufficient job creation, a mismatch between available skills and employer needs, and significant barriers to entering the workforce. To unlock the unrealised capacity of Africa’s young population and promote inclusive economic growth, it is essential to tackle these challenges head-on.
Youth unemployment
In these uncertain times I have found myself grasping for a silver lining. A call from a dear friend and one of the most inspiring women I know did just that. Jane Muigai Kamphius is the Founder and CEO of Toolkit Skills & Innovation Hub right in the heart of Kikuyu town. It serves as a beacon of hope and empowerment for vulnerable youth and women in Kenya. Founded in 2014, this innovative social enterprise is dedicated to transforming lives through comprehensive skills training and certification, ensuring that participants are equipped with the competencies demanded by today’s labor market.
By bridging the gap between education and employment, Toolkit not only enhances individual capabilities but also fosters entrepreneurship, enabling its graduates to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Through its commitment to innovation and inclusivity, Toolkit is paving the way for a brighter future, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
In Kenya, youth unemployment is a critical concern. While the overall unemployment rate is 12.7 per cent, young people between 15 and 34 years old experience a much higher rate of 67 per cent. This demographic represents about 35 per cent of the Kenyan population, with over a million young individuals entering the job market each year, many lacking sufficient skills or formal education.
That’s why my recent conversation with Jane inspired me as she shared a powerful story of transformation. Just last week in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Toolkit graduated 150 Solar Technicians and MIG welders - all young women. These women are not only literally bringing light to their communities in Kakuma by building, installing and servicing solar systems, but are also equipped with welding skills highly sought after in the automotive, construction, appliance, and sculpting sectors globally.
Talented workforce
The versatility of MIG welding, applicable to steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and more, positions them as invaluable assets across diverse industries. Toolkit is boldly championing the belief that cutting-edge technologies will transform African youth into a globally competitive workforce. Their work underscores a critical mission: creating the workforce of the future is an urgent responsibility for rapidly developing nations striving for quality jobs and we have the brilliant minds amongst us, right here in Kenya, to make it happen.
Can you imagine if every sector’s ‘Toolkit’ could (at scale) equip, skill and deploy a talented workforce for local, regional and global markets? This is a glimpse of a larger movement waiting to emerge.
Across our country and region, countless entrepreneurs and visionaries like Jane are planting seeds for Africa’s green industrialisation, reminding us of the paramount importance of equipping our citizens with the skills for the jobs of now, and the new climate economy. What would it take to ensure the “Toolkits” of our economy grow and thrive? I look forward to exploring this in the weeks ahead.
Wanjira Mathai is the MD for Africa & Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute and Chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation.
