The government has approved a new Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) policy aimed at unlocking digital employment opportunities for hundreds of thousands of young Kenyans who miss out on formal jobs every year.
Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary (PS) Shadrack Mwadime said the policy, which was recently approved by Cabinet, will provide a framework for protecting workers in the digital economy while positioning Kenya as a major player in the global outsourcing market.
Speaking during the launch of a digital learning and foreign languages programme at Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Mwadime said the country faces a growing employment challenge, with nearly 700,000 young people left without formal jobs annually.
“Every year we produce close to one million graduates and school leavers, but our economy is only able to absorb about 300,000 into formal employment. The rest must be supported through alternative opportunities, including digital jobs and entrepreneurship,” he said.
The PS said the government was increasingly focusing on digital employment as a practical solution to youth unemployment, citing cases of young Kenyans earning substantial incomes through online work.
He revealed that one young Kenyan recently earned Sh. 400,000 from a single digital assignment, demonstrating the potential of the sector to generate wealth and employment.
“Many people do not understand what digital jobs can do. Some young people work at night because they are serving clients in different time zones across the world. These opportunities are real and can transform lives,” he said.
Mwadime noted that the BPO policy would help safeguard the interests of Kenyans working online while creating a conducive environment for growth in the sector.
The announcement comes as the government intensifies efforts to address unemployment among the country’s youthful population.
According to Mwadime, Kenya’s average age is about 18 years, with roughly 70 per cent of the population aged below 35.
While the government continues to promote overseas employment through the Kazi Majuu programme, Mwadime said digital work offers an opportunity for young people to earn globally while remaining in the country.
He said the government had already secured employment opportunities for more than 560,000 Kenyans abroad over the last three years and was expanding labour agreements with countries in Europe and North America.
At the same time, the State Department for Labour is working with universities and training institutions to align academic programmes with labour market demands.
Mwadime said employers frequently raise concerns about graduates lacking workplace-ready skills despite spending years in training institutions.
“We want educational institutions to become recruitment centres where students transition directly into employment. Universities must train for the market that exists today and the opportunities that are emerging globally,” he said.
The launch at Great Lakes University of Kisumu introduced a digital classroom ecosystem supported by Samsung and other partners, alongside foreign language training programmes targeting opportunities in Germany, Canada, the Gulf region and other international labour markets.
The PS said language proficiency was becoming increasingly important as Kenya positions its workforce for global competitiveness.
“German, Arabic, Mandarin, Korean and Spanish are no longer just languages. They are economic pathways that open doors to jobs, business opportunities and labour mobility,” he said.
Great Lakes University Vice Chancellor Professor Hazel Miseda Mumbo described the initiative as a major step towards leveraging technology to tackle unemployment.
“We have already seen people living in Kenya and working for organisations abroad. Technology and digital skills are creating opportunities that were previously unavailable to many young people,” she said.
The university, she said, plans to expand digital learning and foreign language programmes as part of efforts to prepare graduates for both local and international labour markets.
By Chris Mahandara and Robert Onyango
