Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the plight of the Kenyan youth, further urging them to seize the various opportunities being unlocked under the government’s empowerment agenda.
The PS has also urged the youth to act boldly and responsibly to take charge of their future by leveraging on the resources provided by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“These aren’t just policy statements on paper. They are real, practical springboards of opportunity. It is now up to you to recognise that, step forward and act,” Omollo said.
The PS highlighted
the government’s plan and commitment to enable young people at the grassroots build livelihoods and grow their enterprises through targeted support and access to economic tools.
Key among the government’s initiatives that seek to champion practical, people-first solutions, Omollo noted, was the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which is a youth-centered framework designed to open doors in the most relevant sectors agriculture, MSMEs, housing, healthcare, digital infrastructure, the creative economy, and climate action.
“These sectors have been carefully selected because they reflect where Kenya’s untapped potential lies,” he explained.
“And more importantly, they reflect where our young people can lead, create jobs and innovate,” he added.
To address the issue of unemployment, Omollo challenged the youth to organise, innovate, collaborate, and plug into the programs being rolled out across the country.
“The government is doing its part by creating the infrastructure, opening funding windows, launching digital platforms, and removing bureaucratic barriers,” he said. “But now, we need the energy of youth. We need your ideas, your skills, and your ambition.”He was also keen to emphasize that leadership is no longer limited to politics or public office.
“Leadership today is
about problem-solving,” he said. “It’s about starting an agribusiness, running a boda boda sacco, building a health startup, or mentoring your peers. There are many ways to lead — and Kenya needs all of them.”
Omollo further spotlighted youth-focused sectors such as agriculture, MSMEs, affordable housing, healthcare, digital tech, the creative economy, and climate action – calling them launchpads for Kenya’s transformation. He urged young people to align their skills with these national priorities, noting that initiatives like affordable housing and the digital superhighway aren’t just development projects but job creators.
“It’s not just about
shelter or internet access…It’s about tackling unemployment head-on,” he observed.
At the same time, he delved into the Social Health Authority (SHA) which he referred to as one of the government’s most transformational projects — and a perfect example of how smart policy can meet real-world need.
“SHA is designed to offer every Kenyan access to dignified, affordable healthcare without the risk of financial ruin. For decades, families have had to sell land or hold harambees just to afford medical care That ends with SHA,” stated Omollo.
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“Beyond offering health security, SHA will also create jobs in community health work, telemedicine, mental health support, wellness entrepreneurship, and digital health innovation,” he added.
By Josphat Thiong’o