Are You Telling Me All Youths Had Jobs Before I Became President? Ruto to Critics

President pushes back against critics, says unemployment predates his administration

President William Ruto mounted a spirited defense of his government’s employment record Wednesday, questioning critics who blame his administration for Kenya’s youth unemployment crisis.

Speaking to residents in Kilimani, Nairobi, Ruto challenged assertions that joblessness among young people is a problem unique to his presidency, which began in September 2022.

“Do you mean to tell me that all young people had jobs before I became president? You mean to tell me that unemployment came into play when I became president?” the president asked, his voice carrying a tone of frustration at what he termed unfair criticism.

The president’s remarks come amid mounting pressure over Kenya’s persistent unemployment problem, particularly among the youth who constitute the majority of the country’s population. Recent graduate protests and social media campaigns have intensified scrutiny of the government’s job creation efforts.

Ruto argued that his administration represents the first to take “deliberate steps” to address a problem that has plagued Kenya for decades. He cited statistics showing over 600,000 young people employed through various government programs since he took office.

The centerpiece of his employment strategy, the Affordable Housing Programme, currently employs 320,000 youth, according to the president. He described the initiative as serving a dual purpose – addressing Kenya’s housing deficit while creating construction jobs.

“I said we will have solutions for these young people. Right now, we have 320,000 youths working in the affordable housing programme,” Ruto stated.

Beyond construction, the president highlighted Kenya’s expanding digital economy, which he said now employs 130,000 young people. Additionally, 400,000 young Kenyans are reportedly working abroad through bilateral labor agreements his administration has negotiated with foreign governments.

“In the last two years, 320,000 are in affordable housing, 400,000 are in other sectors in different countries, and almost 200,000 are in digital jobs,” Ruto outlined his employment scorecard.

However, the president’s optimistic figures face skepticism from critics who question the sustainability and quality of these positions. Opposition politicians and civil society groups have challenged the government to provide more detailed breakdowns of these employment claims.

Ruto also used the platform to criticize political opponents, accusing them of misleading youth about unemployment and warning against “incitement and misinformation.”

“I urge my critics not to deceive or incite the youth about unemployment. This issue cannot be sorted out in one day,” he said, adding that “for the first time, we have a plan to solve unemployment.”

The president emphasized that sustainable job creation requires long-term planning and political stability, warning that destruction of businesses and public property would undermine employment opportunities.

“The youth cannot get jobs if we are going to loot or destroy businesses and public property. They will get jobs if we make a plan,” Ruto declared.

His comments appear aimed at recent protest movements that have seen some instances of property destruction, though organizers maintain their demonstrations are largely peaceful.

As Kenya grapples with economic challenges including high cost of living and limited formal sector opportunities, the employment question remains central to political discourse. While Ruto’s administration touts its job creation record, critics argue that the scale of unemployment requires more comprehensive solutions beyond the programs currently in place.

The debate over youth employment is likely to intensify as Kenya approaches the halfway point of Ruto’s first term, with his administration’s ability to deliver on campaign promises becoming increasingly scrutinized.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​