Youth and the Work Crisis: Accelerating Youth Employability in Kisumu

In Kisumu, like much of Kenya, the promise of youth is met with a stark reality – high unemployment, rampant underemployment, and widening urban-rural divides.

Nationally, over 15% of Kenyans aged 20-24 are unemployed, and many more are stuck in low-paying jobs that fail to reflect their skills and aspirations.

Young women, in particular, face greater barriers due to cultural limitations and educational gaps.

The Kisumu development agenda cannot ignore these persistent structural challenges. A bold, job-centric vision is needed – one that doesn’t just aim to reduce unemployment, but transforms Kisumu into a youth employability hub.

A New Deal for Kisumu’s Youth: Scalable Job Creation Strategies

To spark mass employment and truly include the youth in development, Kisumu must align its growth pillars with scalable, high-impact employment initiatives currently shaping national discourse.

1. Smart Agriculture, Powered by Youth

Kisumu’s rural outskirts hold vast potential for agricultural transformation. By:

Expanding access to fertilizer subsidies and farming inputs,

Establishing training centers on climate-smart and modern farming techniques,

Encouraging agribusiness incubation hubs near Lake Basin Development Authority and Agri City zones – the county can convert subsistence farming into profitable youth-led agribusinesses.

2. Digital and Remote Work Inclusion

Kisumu can become a Western Kenya digital economy capital by:

Rolling out digital literacy programs through TVETs and youth centers,

Partnering with the private sector to establish freelance workspaces and remote-work studios in Kondele, Nyalenda, and Manyatta,

Tapping into the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry to create job pipelines for trained youth.

3. Expand Public Works with Green Jobs

Kisumu can localize and expand national efforts like Climate WorX Mtaani, creating:

Urban and rural-based green jobs in waste management, tree planting, and waterway restoration.

Labor-intensive public works in flood mitigation, dike construction, and feeder road upgrades.

These would not only offer temporary income but also equip youth with technical skills for longer-term opportunities.

The Long Game: Sustainable Employment Pillars for Kisumu

To sustain progress, Kisumu must invest in long-term structural reforms:

1. Education that Works

Revamp county training programs by:

Aligning curricula with emerging sectors (tech, green energy, creative economy),

Creating stronger TVET–industry linkages for guaranteed internships and job placement.

2. Funding Youth Dreams

Through County Youth Enterprise Fund alignment with national programs like:

YEDF and Hustler Fund, support youth start-ups and expand market access,

Offer business development mentorships for sustainable entrepreneurship.

3. Public–Private Synergy

Build county-level employment accelerators through joint investment in:

Industrial parks,

Creative hubs (film, fashion, and music),

Eco-tourism ventures tied to Lake Victoria’s economy.

4. Social Safety and Informal Sector Uplift

Pilot informal sector protection programs:

Establish informal worker cooperatives,

Provide basic health insurance, retirement savings schemes, and accident cover for boda bodas, mama mbogas, and artisans.

Conclusion: Employability as a Cornerstone of Kisumu’s Renaissance

Youth unemployment isn’t just a statistic – it’s a warning sign.

By embedding mass employability strategies into Kisumu’s development DNA, the county won’t just build roads and bridges.

It will build livelihoods, secure futures, and unleash the power of a generation.