Inside the New Proposal Before Parliament to Pay Jobless Youth Ksh7,000 Every Month

A youth lobby group has presented a new proposal to Parliament seeking the creation of a Ksh300 billion supplementary budget for the 2026/27 financial year to help tackle unemployment among young Kenyans.

The proposal aims to provide financial support, create employment opportunities, and equip millions of unemployed youth with skills needed to improve their livelihoods.

The petition, which was reviewed by Kenyans.co.ke, was officially handed to Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo by the Youth and Young Aspirants League of the United Green Movement (UGM) Party on Thursday, June 25.

The group is asking Parliament to implement the proposed programme starting in July 2026 if it receives approval.

According to the petitioners, the proposal was deliberately submitted on the second anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z protests.

They said the timing was meant to remind leaders of the concerns raised by young people during the demonstrations and to encourage the government to make youth employment a national priority.

The group also stated that the proposal would serve as a way of honouring those who lost their lives during the protests while pushing for meaningful economic reforms.

The petition notes that many of the young people who took part in the 2024 protests were demanding better living conditions, more employment opportunities, and a future where every Kenyan could enjoy the dignity promised under the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

The lobby group argues that despite those demands, little has changed regarding the country’s growing unemployment crisis.

“Most of the young people who were in the streets in 2024, 60 of whom were killed by police, wanted a better life for themselves, their families, and all Kenyans to live lives of dignity as promised by the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

The government has not adequately responded to the issues raised by the youth in June 2024, including the urgent need to address rising youth unemployment,” the proposal states.

The proposal, which carries the endorsement of former Chief Justice David Maraga, recommends the creation of what it calls the “Ukombozi Budget.”

According to the document, this programme should be placed under the Social Protection sector and funded through a Ksh300 billion supplementary allocation.

A large portion of the proposed budget, amounting to Ksh168 billion, would be used to support two million unemployed youth who do not possess specialised skills.

Under the plan, each beneficiary would receive Ksh7,000 every month for one year while participating in public work programmes designed to improve communities and provide temporary employment.

In addition, the proposal seeks to allocate Ksh60 billion to assist skilled but unemployed young people.

The money would provide one-time grants of Ksh150,000 each to 400,000 beneficiaries, allowing them to start businesses, become self-employed, or expand small enterprises that can create more jobs for others.

The youth lobby has also proposed setting aside Ksh36 billion for vocational education and skills development programmes.

The funds would support training for about 600,000 young people, helping them acquire practical skills that increase their chances of finding employment or starting their own businesses.

The remaining Ksh28 billion would be used to manage and administer the programme. This would include operational costs, monitoring, registration of beneficiaries, and ensuring the proposed initiatives are implemented effectively across the country.

Beyond financial support, the petition also calls on the government to establish a national register for unemployed graduates as well as holders of diploma and certificate qualifications.

The group believes such a database would help policymakers better understand the scale of unemployment and design targeted employment programmes that match the qualifications and skills of job seekers.

The petitioners are further urging Parliament to introduce dedicated budget allocations specifically for youth skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment creation.

They argue that sustained investment in these areas would help unlock the potential of Kenya’s young population and contribute significantly to long-term economic growth.

According to the proposal, young people aged between 18 and 35 account for about 67 per cent of all unemployed Kenyans.

At the same time, citizens below the age of 35 make up nearly 75 per cent of the country’s total population. The lobby group says this presents both a challenge and an opportunity, depending on how the government responds.

“Properly harnessed, this youth bulge will transform the country’s socio-economic status if sufficient jobs and employment opportunities are made available,” the petition states.

The latest proposal represents a renewed push to address youth unemployment, one of the key concerns raised during the nationwide Gen Z demonstrations in 2024.

The petitioners maintain that creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, and investing in skills development are essential steps towards improving the lives of millions of young Kenyans and promoting long-term economic stability.

The proposal comes shortly after President William Ruto signed the Finance Bill 2026 into law, approving the Ksh4.8 trillion national budget for the 2026/27 financial year.

The youth lobby now hopes Parliament will consider introducing the proposed supplementary budget to ensure more resources are directed towards tackling unemployment and expanding opportunities for Kenya’s growing youth population.

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