Speaking during the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, said the government has taken deliberate steps to stimulate employment across all sectors through an integrated approach. This includes investment in infrastructure, targeted incentives for MSMEs, and expanded access to credit through the Hustler Fund.
He noted that the government continues to drive economic growth by creating job opportunities for the youth, particularly through the Affordable Housing Plan, which has so far generated over 244,232 jobs in the construction sector.
Responding to ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo’s report during the opening of the conference, the PS welcomed the theme of this year’s report, describing it as closely aligned with the aspirations of the Kenyan government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He stated that BETA is rooted in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth through productive employment and social justice.
The PS further noted that Kenya has strengthened labour migration governance through the operationalization of the Labour Migration Management Strategy, aimed at addressing youth unemployment and the skills mismatch in the country. This strategy includes bilateral labour agreements with destination countries, enhanced pre-departure training, and reintegration services.
“These measures have contributed significantly to the protection and productivity of Kenyan Migrant workers,” he said.
He reported that Kenya has accelerated the domestication of ratified ILO conventions into national legislation.
“These included recent amendments to the Employment Act, the Labour Institutions Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which have now been aligned to the country’s legal framework with emerging decent work priorities,” he said.
He added that Kenya’s Labour Inspection and Compliance Framework has been modernized through digitization and capacity building of inspection officers.
“We are proud to report increased coverage and improved compliance in the formal and informal sectors, especially in relation to occupational health and safety standards, social security registration, and child labour elimination,” he said.
Recognizing climate change as a pressing issue with far reaching effects and labour market implications, the PS said Kenya is investing and giving priority to establishment of green jobs.
“Kenya is investing in green jobs through the Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (GESIP), promoting circular economy principles and building adaptive capacity among workers through skilling for just transition,” Mwadime said.
Kenya, therefore, called for “increased international support in financing employment intensive infrastructure, strengthening social protection systems, and supporting just transitions in climate-vulnerable countries.”
The country commended ILO for maintaining an unwavering focus on the centrality of decent work in the face of global uncertainty, inequality, and climate disruptions.
