President William Ruto on Sunday reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing the rising issue of youth unemployment in Kenya. In a candid revelation during a press conference at State House, Ruto disclosed that even his own children are grappling with joblessness, highlighting the pervasive nature of the problem.
“Youth unemployment is something we must resolve. You Kenyans out of school, out of college, including my own children, they speak to me, and they have no opportunities to work or to monetize their talents,” Ruto stated.
Ruto elaborated that his children face significant challenges in finding avenues to monetize their skills or pursue their career aspirations. This personal insight underscores the urgency and importance of his administration’s efforts to create job opportunities for all young Kenyans.
President Ruto’s children include Nick Ruto, Charlene Chelagat Ruto, Stephanie Jepchumba Ruto, June Ruto, George Ruto, and Nadia Cherono Ruto, all of whom have ventured into various fields such as law, communication, and international relations.
Despite their diverse career paths, they too experience the frustrations of a tough job market. Charlene, his second daughter, stands out for her public work through her foundation and her recent selection as Kenya’s Blood Ambassador by the Ministry of Health.
Ruto emphasized that his administration’s initiatives aim to ensure job opportunities for young Kenyans upon completing their education.
One significant effort involves a job agreement with Germany, set to employ 250,000 Kenyans annually. “We just finished an agreement with Germany on how we will get more young people to be employed in Germany. These are the things that resonated with young people during the campaigns, and I am doing them,” Ruto added.
The agreement with Germany, scheduled for signing in September, will target positions such as drivers and caregivers, addressing both Germany’s workforce needs and Kenya’s unemployment crisis.
Moreover, Ruto highlighted ongoing discussions with social media platforms like TikTok to help Kenyans monetize their content.
“I have gone out of my way, I have called the leadership of TikTok. I am the one who convinced TikTok to get Kenyans to monetize the content on TikTok. I believe there are young people who are in other spaces who are not traditional but are interested in monetizing their talent,” he stated.
