CRUCIAL PIECE OF THE ECONOMIC PUZZLE.

In respect to World Bank analysis, an estimate of 75% of Kenyans are below the 35 years mark. Thus, this figure reveals that Kenya has the potential to boost the economy growth to great lengths, as the youths are an economic force that can both drive and create demand for goods and services especially due to the growing digital economy.

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According to the Director-General of the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat, Mr Kenneth Mwige, attaining food security, building affordable homes, accelerating manufacturing and ensuring affordable healthcare, directly benefits the young people. Creating jobs through manufacturing will create demand for food and housing, and once the young people start families on account of having disposable incomes, they will automatically require healthcare that meets the needs of their households and those of their dependants.

Fortunately, this seems to be the direction headed, within the first months of Dr. William Ruto's regime. For instance, the president stated his plan to deliver 200,000 housing units annually that will heavily rely on counties’ backing and how it will create a business environment for the private sector. In his defence to ending the kazi mtaani that was beneficial to 280,000 youths from 1,100 informal settlements across the 47 counties, he said that the housing program will absorb them all into construction, and revert the cleaning services back to the county governments. Therefore, the policies and systems that the government has set into achieving success of this projects, will undoubtedly need regular intervations to ensure there rightful execution.

In the pursue to an inclusive and resilient economic recovery, accelerating job creation will be essential. The present government should invest more in modifying the mentality of young people, that they can only work in white collar jobs. This can be achieved mainly through enrolling them in technical and vocational colleges, so that they can be socialised to embrace skill and knowledge-based jobs going into the future. Another way is also encouraging training in youth groups, for instance, on basic business management. This leaves them connected with a market for their goods, the profitability leading to better quality of life for them and their families. Furthermore, with the digital space booming, talent can be monetised and professionalised to make it profitable for them to engage in the activities they are passionate about, be it acting, music or sports.

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The national and county governments should collaborate in meeting the infrastructure and policies that will embrace investments for the progressive growth of our nation. That way, the young people, feel confident to live, work and invest in any part of the country. Vision 2030 still stands a chance to be achieved, if the correct formular takes into consideration the energy, creativity and entrepreneurship that the youth has to offer.