The youth, who form about 80 per cent of the population, are the worst hit by unemployment, the director and co-founder of The Youth Congress Raphael Obonyo has said.
The Youth Congress is an NGO that provides a platform for young people to articulate their issues.
“This is a persistent problem. We need to act now if we are going to realise the significant opportunities for the young people today,” Obonyo said.
Out of every 10 unemployed Kenyans, seven are young people aged 35 and below, he said.
Obonyo emphasised on the need to urgently develop solutions to the youth unemployment crisis.
On Saturday, youth entrepreneurs, policymakers, the private sector and development partners convened at Marble Arch hotel in Nairobi to reflect on solutions.
The Secretary of Youth Affairs at State Department for Youth, Raymond Ochieng, said there is a need for collaboration among different actors to counter youth unemployment.
“The youth unemployment problem is a complex multi-layered issue and new and strengthened partnerships are needed," he said
"The government, private sector, development partners and civil society need to work together to create solutions that are sustainable and effective."
Kenya’s private sector, he said, is positioned as a critical agent for change in youth unemployment.
According to Kenya Private Sector Alliance, at least one million youths enter the job market yearly but they are not been able to get opportunities.
Stakeholders urged the private sector, which provides around 90 per cent of employment for both formal and informal jobs, to support interventions that will address the problem.
