2025 has been a big year for youth livelihoods in Kenya. Here's why.

A youth enrolled in programs with ChildFund Kenya studies at a computer lab. 

Janet, a 23-year-old from Kasarani, Kenya, knows all too well how it feels to be unemployed and feel uncertain about her future. 

“I spent two years jobless,” she says. “Now, I’m offering social media services to local businesses.” 

What changed? Janet enrolled in the Ajira Digital Skills Training Program, spearheaded by Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy and supported by ChildFund. This hybrid training program, blending in-person and online mentorship, seeks to equip youth with practical skills for online work and digital entrepreneurship. 

“This training didn’t just give me skills – it gave me confidence and income,” Janet says.  

2025 has been a big year for youth like Janet, in part due to ChildFund Kenya’s investment in landmark youth skills development programs like Ajira. From 2024-2025, ChildFund Kenya supported three of our local partners – Mt. Kilimanjaro Children Development Program (MKCDP) in Kajiado County, Emali Children Dedicated Program (ECDP) in Kajiado and Makueni counties, and Nairobi Metropolitan Program (NMP) in Nairobi, Kiambu and Murang’a counties – to embark on the Ajira initiative, enrolling a total of 331 youth in the program. 

The decision to focus on digital skills wasn’t accidental. Findings from the Ajira Digital Training Needs Assessment conducted by NMP revealed a deep appetite for digital careers: 70% of youth expressed interest in online marketing, graphic design or programming, with the main motivations being career advancement and business creation. Over 56% lacked access to a computer or internet, pointing to the urgent need for infrastructural support to bridge the digital divide. 

 George and Purity, youth enrolled in the Ajira program, learn about digital entrepreneurship.  

The partnership with Ajira Digital has been timely and strategic, offering not just skills, but hope and excitement for the future. For youth, the training has opened doors to remote work opportunities, digital freelancing and, most importantly, a sense of purpose and agency. And it’s not the only ChildFund Kenya program that’s doing so. 

Youth-led efforts at ChildFund Kenya have driven the creation of more than 20 green schools, as well as widespread environmental education through disaster risk reduction programs and Aflatoun clubs. Youth Advisory Boards and community forums ensure that young people have a say in these programs’ governance and local development priorities. Moreover, ChildFund Kenya is supporting thousands of youth with entrepreneurship skills, providing access to seed capital, mentorship and vocational training in areas ranging from agribusiness to artisan crafts. 

At the national level, 2025 marks a major milestone for Kenya with the government's official launch of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, a World Bank-funded initiative targeting 820,000 vulnerable youth across the country. The NYOTA Project aligns seamlessly with ChildFund’s work by offering on-the-job experiences, recognition of prior learning, digital skills training and entrepreneurship support. 

Cabinet Secretary Hon. Salim Mvurya, in his remarks during the NYOTA launch, described the program as a “game-changer” not just in addressing youth unemployment but in recognizing and validating the informal skills that many youth already possess. With most Ajira-trained youth already operating small digital enterprises or offering freelance services, the project offers youth an avenue for further growth and the formalization of their skills. 

Efforts like Ajira and NYOTA would not be possible without the strategic support of development partners like the World Bank. Their investment in youth inclusion, particularly for underserved populations, reinforces the importance of partnerships for sustainable development. It also affirms that long-term change is only possible when government, civil society and donors align around a shared vision. 

ChildFund Kenya remains committed to walking alongside young people, not ahead of them. Through structured programming, youth are not just passive recipients of support – they’re actual designers of solutions. 

Our mission is clear: to support youth with the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to thrive in a changing world. With the momentum of initiatives like Ajira and NYOTA, the voices of Kenya’s youth are growing louder, stronger and more impactful. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow: They are leading today. 

In the words of 25-year-old Eric, a program participant from Mukuru: “We’re not waiting for change. We are the change.”