Jobs, not politics, top youth agenda as survey reveals deep anxiety over Kenya’s future

Young people in Kenya during a past anti-government protest

Kenya’s
youth have delivered a blunt verdict on the country’s direction: create jobs or
risk deepening social and economic frustration.

The
latest African Youth Survey 2026 paints
a picture of a generation that remains firmly committed to democracy but
increasingly worried about unemployment, the economy and their place in the
country’s future.

While
most young people want to shape Kenya through elections and greater political
participation, many are also willing to embrace more confrontational forms of
activism if change fails to materialise.

The
survey, conducted by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and PSB Insights among
4,901 respondents aged between 18 and 24 across 16 African countries, including
about 300 face-to-face interviews in Kenya.

It
found that employment has overtaken every other issue as the country’s most
pressing concern.

Seven
in every 10 Kenyan respondents identified unemployment and poverty as the biggest
threat to safety within their communities, the highest proportion recorded
among all countries surveyed.

An
identical 70 per cent said creating jobs for young people should be the
government’s top priority for improving security.

The
findings come against the backdrop of persistent youth unemployment in Kenya,
where official data shows thousands of graduates join the labour market every
year while formal job creation continues to lag.

The
informal sector remains the largest employer, accounting for more than 80 per cent
of new jobs created annually, according to the Kenya National Bureau of
Statistics.

The
survey also reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the country’s economic
trajectory.

Four
out of five respondents, or 80 per cent, believe Kenya is moving in the wrong
direction, while 79 per cent say the national economy is headed the wrong way.

Another
70 per cent feel Africa as a whole is on the wrong path.

Despite
the bleak economic outlook, young Kenyans remain remarkably optimistic about
democratic governance.

An
overwhelming 81 per cent said democracy is always preferable to any other form
of government, placing Kenya among Africa’s strongest supporters of democratic
rule.

At
the same time, 76 per cent believe their voices matter to national leaders,
suggesting that many young people still see value in civic participation.

However,
the survey also exposes growing impatience with the pace of political change.

About
66 per cent said they support non-peaceful protests and other actions to bring
about political change, underscoring lingering frustrations that have fuelled
youth-led demonstrations in recent years.

The
desire for generational change in leadership is equally striking.

Nearly
all respondents, at 96 per cent, said they would be more likely to vote for a
political party that fields more young candidates, while 86 per cent believe
too few young people occupy leadership positions in government.

Ichikowitz
Family Foundation founder Ivor Ichikowitz said the findings present
policymakers with a practical roadmap.

“Youth
are connecting Kenya’s future to work, enterprise and economic security,”
he said.

He
adds that governments and businesses must expand opportunities for meaningful
employment while creating pathways for greater youth participation in
leadership.

The
survey also highlights how global geopolitics is increasingly shaping the views
of Kenya’s younger generation.

Kenya
recorded the strongest perception of Chinese influence among all countries
surveyed.

Some
94 per cent of respondents said China has significant influence in Kenya, while
96 per cent of those respondents viewed that influence positively.

The
favourable perception reflects China’s expanding footprint in Kenya over the
past two decades through trade, infrastructure financing and investment.

China
remains Kenya’s largest source of imports, with goods worth about Sh671.2 billion entering the
country in 2025, while Kenyan exports to China stood at just Sh16.9 billion, leaving a record trade
deficit exceeding Sh654 billion.

Both
countries are now pursuing a zero-tariff trade framework aimed at expanding
Kenyan exports such as tea, coffee, avocados and macadamia nuts into the
Chinese market.

Beyond
trade, Beijing remains Kenya’s largest bilateral lender.

Treasury
data shows Kenya owed China about Sh628.7
billion by the end of December 2025, largely tied to financing for
flagship infrastructure projects including the Standard Gauge Railway, major
highways and energy developments.

More
recently, Kenya restructured part of its Chinese railway debt into yuan, a move
expected to reduce annual debt-servicing costs significantly.

President
William Ruto’s 2025 state visit to Beijing further strengthened ties, resulting
in more than 20 agreements covering transport, agriculture, ICT, healthcare and
the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway alongside expansion of
several strategic highways.

By
contrast, the survey suggests the United States’ influence is waning.

Although
87 per cent of respondents still recognise American influence in Kenya, nearly
two-thirds or 63 per cent believe the scaling back of USAID operations will
negatively affect the country.

Three-quarters
identified healthcare and disease prevention as the sectors likely to suffer
the biggest impact.

The
survey also reveals a generation increasingly conscious of global instability.

Some
87 per cent of Kenyan respondents believe the world is becoming more divided
and dangerous the highest level among all 16 participating countries.

“Taken
together, the findings portray a generation that is not disengaged from
politics but demanding tangible results,’’ Ichikowitz concludes.