Kenya's unemployment rate has risen consistently over the years. Except for 2023, the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent period witnessed a steady rise from 2019 to 2020 to 2021, when it fell 0.12% from the 5.81% percentage in 2022.
With GDP growth rate of 5.6% in 2025, the country's unemployment rate is forecast to be 7.23% and exceed 6.61% in 2024, which is projected to be much higher than 5.68% in 2023. These projections mean that an estimated 195 million people will be unemployed, further exacerbating the situation for the majority of the country to acquire a large population.
The impact of these fees on youthful segments of the population was intense. For example, the general unemployment rate in Kenya was 5.68% in 2023, while the unemployment rate among young people was 12.23%. And such charges are based on the UN classification of youths between 18 and 44 years, and may not yet reflect the actual number of unemployed people.
The Constitution defines young people as 18-35 years. This is a classification that was contended diluted by old security guards but was convincingly promoted by youth representatives at the National Constitutional Conference during multi-stakeholder negotiations for the Kenya constitution from 2003 to 4th. Much more young people form the majority of the population affected by unemployment.
Aside from the reliability of unemployment data, the lack of a comprehensive labour migration policy framework in Kenya and weak coordination between agencies is a worrisome among migrant workers.
High unemployment and high levels of poverty combined with the increased demand for domestic work in the Gulf Enterprise Countries (GCC), labor migrants from Kenya have increased exponentially in recent years, with most migrants aged 20-35.
While the majority of documented immigrants have relatively low levels of education, severe unemployment rates have led some university graduates to enter the international domestic job market. As a result, Kenya is the main recipient of foreign remittances, and the Kenyan diaspora sends a significant amount back home.
Recognizing the global impact of foreign remittances and the new reality of cross-border movements of people regardless of nationality, race, religion or social status, coupled with pushes by agencies such as the UN Economic Commission in Africa and the African Union Commission (AUC), it approved the free movement of people, the movement of the labor institutions, and the general meeting of the general assembly. 16. Recognize the contributions of migrant workers and their families.
For example, in 2024, the Kenyan diaspora sent a record $4.94 billion (SH64.075 billion), growing 18% from the previous year, with most of these being domestic workers in the GCC provinces of Burrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Arab Emirates.
However, most immigrants face major challenges. Due to the lack of immediate support after arrival when returning to psychosocial, reproductive, occupational health support and financial issues, many immigrants return without savings. Others are forced into undocumented positions in foreign countries with the possibility of deportation.
Lack of returns and support for reintegration, negative attitudes, and sociocultural factors that denounce them rather than celebrate them, prevent them from reintegrating and create a limited prospect of returning home. The lack of certification to utilize skills acquired overseas has exacerbated their light form.
Against this backdrop, the African Union Immigration Coordination Committee is working in partnership with returning immigration, civil society, and related government ministries, departments and agencies on policy and legislative reforms to address the gap.
– The author is executive director of the National Civil Society Centre in Kenya and chairman of the Horn of the African Civil Society Forum
