• Fifty-four per cent said equality of all citizens under the law is the key underpinning of democracy, as opposed to 49 per cent of youth across Africa.
• Fifty-three per cent of young Kenyans said the same of free and fair elections, in contrast to 42 per cent on average.
Kenyan youth are 16 times more likely to say that their country is headed in the wrong direction than the African average.
This is according to the Kenyan report of Africa Youth Survey 2022 by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation.
The survey found that 84 per cent of Kenyan youth feel that way compared to 68 per cent of the African average.
This means that of all the youth in Africa, Kenyan youth are the least confident about the direction of their country.
“Often such findings are common among more attentive and publicly aware demographics, suggesting that Kenya’s youth are very much in tune with current events,” the report said.
Fifty-four per cent said equality of all citizens under the law is the key underpinning of democracy, as opposed to 49 per cent of youth across Africa.
Fifty-three per cent of young Kenyans said the same of free and fair elections, in contrast to 42 per cent on average.
“That is a notable 11 times higher emphasis on the institution of voting,” they said.
Half of Kenyan respondents said political leaders are negative drivers of change in their country, as opposed to 32 per cent on average.
“This suggests that there is frustration with political leadership on the whole,” they said.
One of the greatest concerns among Kenyan youth that leads to this frustration is the lack of employment and corruption.
Kenyan youth were found to be more concerned about lack of employment opportunities and corruption than many of the 15 African countries surveyed.
“Eight in 10 Kenyans between the ages of 18-24 said that they are dissatisfied with job creation efforts, a marked increase from the African average of 69 per cent,” the survey suggests.
If given the opportunity, nine out of 10 Kenyans said they would start their own businesses.
“This suggests a uniquely entrepreneurial sentiment shared throughout the third-largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa’s largest demographic, 70 per cent of Kenya’s population being below 30 years of age,” the survey said.
When asked if their country is creating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, 75 per cent responded in the affirmative.
Ivor Ichikowitz, founder and chairman of the Ichikowitz Foundation, said the survey makes clear that the next generation of Kenyans is ready to play a leading role in reinvigorating the potential of the East African juggernaut’s economy.
“Our data shows that Kenya tops the list for the country with the highest levels of young people, no less than 90 per cent, who want to start their own businesses, highlighting the overwhelming opportunity presented to the country’s new leadership to engage Kenya’s young people,” he said.
Ichikowitz said he has always admired the Kenyan people for the important role they’ve played in building a digital economy and positioning their country as a hub for entrepreneurs and innovators.
“We believe this new generation will make the significant changes needed to reduce poverty and economic inequality, build a strong middle class and establish Kenya as an important player in the global economy,” he said.
“Their strong support for democracy, human rights, environmental conservation and ecojustice, coupled with the creation of a conducive climate for entrepreneurship to thrive and private businesses to prosper, suggests a brighter future ahead for all of us,” he concluded.