Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has criticised the practice of using young people for political disruption, insisting that Kenya’s youth should be empowered through jobs and skills development rather than reduced to instruments of political rivalry.
Speaking on Wednesday at Alliance High School grounds in Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County, during the graduation of 1,880 youth trained under the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), Kindiki said the culture of hiring youth to heckle opponents must come to an end.
“Our youths are not hecklers or goons for hire. They are a huge resource to advance the country’s development,” he said.
The Deputy President accused some opposition leaders of exploiting unemployed youth by offering small payments to disrupt political events and attack rivals, both physically and online.
“They give them 100 shillings to heckle their opponents in rallies. They are happy to incite them to attack their rivals. They pay them to insult their opponents on social media. They see them as voting machines. They have absolutely nothing to improve their lives,” Kindiki said.
He contrasted this approach with what he described as the government’s focus on practical empowerment programmes aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods.
“We are totally different from them. We are empowering the young people through intentional and practical programmes. We are working hard to get them employed, to get a source of income for them so as to be important people of our country,” he added.
The graduates, sponsored through the Kikuyu NG-CDF under area MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah, were trained in various vocational fields including masonry, electrical installation, plumbing, welding, painting, tiling, catering, cosmetology, barista skills and caregiving.
Kindiki said job creation remains a central pillar of the government’s agenda, warning that it is no longer sustainable for leaders to exploit jobless youth for political gain.
“The time is up for politicians who only see young people as goons, hecklers, bloggers and voting machines. Going forward is about who has the better vision and plan for employment and job creation,” he said.
He outlined several government initiatives aimed at tackling youth unemployment since 2022. According to the Deputy President, the affordable housing programme, alongside the construction of modern markets and hostels, has so far created 550,000 jobs, with a target of reaching one million by next year.
In the digital economy, the Kazi Mtandaoni programme has engaged more than 300,000 youth in online work, while the Kazi Majuu initiative has enabled 540,000 young Kenyans to secure employment opportunities abroad.
Kindiki also highlighted gains in the education sector, noting that 100,000 teachers have been employed over the past three years, alongside 3,300 tutors recruited for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. He said enrolment in TVETs has more than doubled from 297,000 in 2022 to 718,000 currently.
“We are working hard to ensure our young people get education and skills to be able to make a better living. Education without skills is not complete,” he said.
He added that government funding for education has increased significantly, rising from Sh500 billion in 2022 to Sh765 billion in 2026, supporting infrastructure and staffing improvements.
The Deputy President further revealed that the second phase of the NYOTA empowerment programme is being finalised following the success of its initial rollout.
Leaders present at the event included Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamucomba and NG-CDF Board Chairman Olago Aluoch, among other local leaders.
Kindiki’s remarks come amid heightened political debate over youth unemployment, with leaders increasingly under pressure to provide tangible solutions for Kenya’s growing young population.
