GenKazi Eldoret career fair empowers 2,000 youth

BrighterMonday Kenya, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, is conducting a two-day career fair aimed at tackling unemployment among the youth in the North Rift region, through its Generation Kazi (GenKazi) Programme.
At least 2,000 job seekers are expected to connect with employers while also building stronger labour market linkages in underserved areas.
The program, conducted at the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute in Eldoret, seeks to bring together employers, academic institutions, and Uasin Gishu County Government, together with workforce development platforms, to provide training that enhances employability and aligns with current job market demands.
People working. Image used to illustrate the story.PHOTO/Pexels
According to BrighterMonday Kenya Managing Director, Sarah Ndegwa, the program is designed not only to bridge unemployment gaps by equipping young people with practical skills that suit the current job market but also to challenge the County Government to set up resources to enable the youth put invest fully in their career paths.
“By equipping youth with practical skills and matching them with hiring organisations, the GenKazi Program addresses the persistent youth unemployment gap in Kenya. Underserved and regional towns also need to be prepared as growing hubs for workforce innovation to minimise, if not meet, the unemployment rate amongst our energetic youths,” she said.
Unemployment rate in Kenya
Statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveal that youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, with 39 per cent of Kenyans aged between 18 and 35 being either unemployed or underemployed as of 2023.
Additionally, Ndegwa advocated for youth training on leveraging digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to boost job placement outcomes, while insisting on the need for the youth to invest heavily in their skills and talents.
People walking in a town.Image used for representation purposes only.PHOTO/Pexels
Ndegwa’s sentiments were echoed by Uasin Gishu County CECM for sports, youth affairs, ICT and Innovation, Robert Kemei, who revealed that the establishment of digital hubs with hotspot wifi is already underway to create a safe platform for different youth trainings from all fields of profession.,
” In today’s fast-changing world, access to digital tools and knowledge is no longer a luxury but a necessity. By setting up these hubs, we will be able to provide young people with spaces where they can learn, innovate, and connect with opportunities beyond their immediate environment,” he stated.
The youth, however, have been encouraged to take part in such initiatives, to boost their confidence and self-awareness, which in turn links to the decline in crime rates and misuse of drugs and substance abuse.