Nairobi: The government has highlighted the progress made in creating jobs across key sectors of the economy including agriculture, education, creative economy, and the blue economy. The deliberate focus on job creation is anchored on agricultural transformation, food security, and lowering the cost of living in line with the election pledges made to Kenyans by the current administration.
According to Kenya News Agency, in his weekly press briefing in Nairobi, the government spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura affirmed that bold reforms in the agricultural sector, particularly in coffee, tea, sugar, and cotton, have unlocked new opportunities for farmers and their communities. He revealed that the revival of six cotton ginneries alone has created 700 jobs in counties such as Busia, Bungoma, Kitui, and Embu, whereas the distribution of 100 high-volume grain dryers is set to generate over 10,000 jobs in cooperatives and small enterprises.
Already, Dr. Mwaura highlighted that cotton farming, ginning, and textile activities have supported more than 23,000 rural jobs. Beyond agriculture, he noted that the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) subsector is driving new employment with the refurbishment of 31 County Aggregated Industrial Parks (CAIPS), projected to create 9,000 jobs.
The Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) has directly supported 2,001 youth jobs while linking enterprises to local and regional markets, disclosed Dr. Mwaura, adding that these reforms are making it easier for young entrepreneurs to access financing and formalize their businesses. On the digital superhighway, ICT, and the creative economy, he noted that Kenya is rapidly emerging as Africa’s digital hub, with 50,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable laid across the country, connecting schools, villages, and businesses.
Further, Dr. Mwaura announced that at Konza Technopolis, innovation was thriving, with more than 16 companies now established on-site. He urged more startups and entrepreneurs to set up there, highlighting an investor setting up a factory projected to employ more than 10,000 people by early next year. To expand digital access, he stated that 1,500 Wi-Fi hotspots and 404 digital hubs are now operational, benefiting millions of Kenyans.
He highlighted that nearly 1.9 million young people have been trained in ICT, coding, cloud computing, and AI technologies, creating close to 300,000 digital jobs in freelancing, e-commerce, and the creative economy. Today, more than 40 million Kenyans transact businesses online, while over 21,500 government services are now available digitally.
Addressing education and human capital development, Dr. Mwaura revealed that the government has employed 76,000 teachers since 2022, and through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), 24,000 new teaching jobs have been advertised this year, creating opportunities for graduates and hope for communities. He pledged that as promised in their manifesto, they are on track to employ 116,000 teachers by 2027.
On labor mobility, the government has signed six bilateral labor agreements with the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Thailand, Germany, and Austria, creating more than 452,000 jobs abroad, up from only 14,000 in 2022. Employment opportunities now span technical fields, hospitality, and healthcare, with 586 nurses already cleared for work overseas.
Further, he mentioned that the blue economy and investments in training and infrastructure are unlocking opportunities for the youth, with 875 young Kenyans trained in modern fishing methods. With the sector currently valued at Sh32 billion, its potential exceeds Sh250 billion if fully harnessed.
On investments and industry, Dr. Mwaura disclosed that Export Processing Zones (EPZs) have delivered 14,000 new jobs over the past three years, with four new EPZs under construction expected to add 5,000 more opportunities. Special economic zones have created an additional 11,000 jobs, supported by partnerships with global investors.
At the county level, Mwaura stressed that Aggregation and Industrial Parks are creating jobs by linking farmers directly to processors and markets with thirteen parks nearing completion. Their target is to establish 47 parks across the devolved units, with a joint investment of Sh500 million each shared equally between the national and county governments.
Tourism continues to be one of Kenya’s strongest job creators, where in the past year alone, millions of visitors arrived, supporting 1.6 million jobs, nearly 8 percent of all employment. The high season this year was especially strong and the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has been vital in boosting cash inflows from international visitors.
The government spokesperson also claimed that the creative economy is emerging as a powerful employer with investments in theatres, musicals, and art galleries generating over 1,000 jobs, while new initiatives in film, music, and gaming are opening up careers for young people. Over 32,000 youth have been trained in entrepreneurship and supported with loans exceeding Sh400 million.
In health service delivery, Dr. Mwaura acknowledged that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is being anchored on community health, with 18,831 community health promoters (CHPs) trained and equipped to reach households with preventive and promotive services. Over 107,000 CHPs are now receiving a government stipend, ensuring continuity and motivation in their work.
On the Affordable Housing Program, over 330,000 jobs have been created across construction, manufacturing, supply chains, professional services, transport, and facility management. Beyond direct jobs, housing estates are transforming communities as food vendors, shop owners, and small suppliers see new opportunities with the expansion of settlements.
Meanwhile, security forces including the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service will conduct recruitment exercises in October 2025. The government remains committed to improving the welfare of all Kenyans without discrimination in adherence to the dictates of the country’s most progressive constitution, enacted in 2010.
Mwaura reaffirmed the government’s assurance towards fulfilling its promises to the citizenry under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which is projected to create a better country for everyone.
