Kenya: Workforce Development Key to Unlocking Youth Employment, SMEs Told

What the report says

At a Nairobi business discussion reported by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica, small and medium-sized enterprises in Kenya were encouraged to treat workforce development as a practical response to youth unemployment. The report says the appeal comes amid a growing mismatch between the number of young people entering the labor market and the jobs available, which has increased pressure on the private sector to create opportunities.

Atlanta Wamahia, founder and impact strategy director at Adroid Facilities Limited, argued that many young Kenyans already have usable skills, but lack chances to gain experience and move into work. She said SMEs are well placed to close that gap by building training, mentorship and career progression into their operations rather than focusing only on recruitment.

Wamahia pointed to her company’s facility-management model as an example. According to the report, it combines commercial cleaning work with workforce development, including a six-week training program on housekeeping, communication, hygiene, health and safety before staff are placed with clients. The company also supports workers who want to continue studying or start businesses.

The article adds that workforce development should be paired with fair employment practices, including formal contracts, legal compliance and better access to benefits. Its broader significance is that Kenya’s private sector, especially SMEs, is being asked to play a larger role in job creation and in improving the quality of work available to young people and women.