Kenya is moving to reshape its skills development system to produce graduates who are ready for work from the day they leave school, as government, employers and development partners seek to close the widening gap between education and labour market demands.
The renewed push took centre stage on Wednesday at the opening of the fourth edition of Skill Up Africa 2026, hosted by Nation Media Group (NMG) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to mark World Youth Skills Day.
The two-day forum brought together policymakers, employers, educators, development partners and hundreds of students to discuss how Kenya can equip its youthful population with the skills needed in an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digitalisation and emerging technologies.
NMG Chief Commercial Officer James Sogoti, who represented Nation Media Group's Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Odundo, at the opening of the summit, said the annual forum demonstrates the media house's commitment to using its platforms to positively influence society by driving conversations that shape the country's future.
"NMG seeks to positively influence society in everything that we do. What a great way to do this through influencing our young people and creating opportunities for them to engage, innovate and prepare for the future,” he said.
He said Skill Up Africa has grown into one of the company's flagship public engagement platforms, bringing together government, industry and development partners to connect young people with opportunities in education, innovation, entrepreneurship and employment.
Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua (6th right), Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development Shadrack Mwadime (4th right), Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kenya Sebastian Groth (6th left), Nation Media Group Chief Commercial Officer James Sogoti (left) during the unveiling of the Skill Up Africa event at KICC on July 15, 2026.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
Mr Sogoti noted that Nation Media Group organises about 36 public engagement events annually, with Skill Up Africa standing out because of its focus on Kenya's future workforce. This year's edition features more than 67 exhibitors showcasing opportunities across the education, technology and employment sectors.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua urged young people to embrace resilience, lifelong learning and skills development as Kenya prepares its workforce for a rapidly changing global economy.
Drawing from his own life story, Dr Mutua recounted growing up in poverty, dropping out of school because of financial constraints and later returning to complete his education after receiving support from a benefactor.
His journey, he said, illustrates that success is determined not only by academic qualifications but also by determination, discipline and persistence.
"If you desire to succeed and work hard towards it, the forces of nature unite to make you successful," he told participants.
While encouraging young people to remain hopeful, the Cabinet Secretary said Kenya's future competitiveness will depend on producing graduates equipped with practical and market-driven skills rather than relying solely on academic credentials.
Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development Shadrack Mwadime acknowledged that employers continue to report a mismatch between graduates' competencies and workplace expectations, forcing many young people to seek additional training after completing their studies.
"We don't want you to graduate from TVET institutions, colleges or universities only to be told that you need another year or two of training before you can be employed. Our objective is to transform educational institutions into recruitment centres so that the moment you graduate, you are ready to be absorbed into the labour market," Mr Mwadime said.
He said the ministry intends to strengthen collaboration with employers so that feedback from industry directly informs curriculum reforms, ensuring graduates leave institutions with skills that match evolving workplace demands.
That call was reinforced by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), which said businesses continue to face difficulties recruiting suitably skilled workers despite the country's growing number of graduates.
FKE Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Mugo said a survey involving about 700 enterprises found persistent gaps in technical, digital and soft skills.
"Skills are the bridge between education and employment," she said. "We must move from skills discussions to skills action."
According to Ms Mugo, nearly 60 per cent of employers expressed a preference for technically skilled workers, while many organisations continue to report shortages in digital capabilities and workplace competencies.
She called for deeper collaboration between employers and training institutions through apprenticeships and workplace-based learning, arguing that practical experience is increasingly becoming as valuable as classroom instruction.
"The strongest learning happens when knowledge meets practice," she said.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Dr Gary Conille urged policymakers to rethink how competence is recognised, arguing that qualifications alone cannot solve unemployment.
"A certificate is not competence. Graduation is not a job. A training institution is not a labour market," he said.
Dr Conille called for the recognition and certification of skills acquired outside formal education, particularly in the informal sector, and urged employers to expand apprenticeship opportunities by opening workplaces as centres of learning.
German Ambassador Sebastian Groth said investing in youth skills is not only an economic necessity but also a political and social imperative.
"Youth is not the problem. Youth is the solution," he said, noting that countries that invest in young people's skills strengthen social cohesion, attract investment and build more resilient economies.
He highlighted Germany's labour mobility partnership with Kenya, saying it has created structured pathways for skilled Kenyans to access training and employment opportunities while supporting reforms in technical and vocational education.
Felix Mosioka, a student from Machakos School, said the summit had exposed participants to emerging career opportunities while demonstrating that employers increasingly value practical skills over academic grades.
"We should not only be talked about; we should participate," he said, urging government and industry to involve young people more directly in shaping employment policies.
Brian Kamau, a third-year engineering student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), said Skill Up Africa had changed his perspective on what employers expect from graduates.
"The biggest takeaway for me is that a degree alone is no longer enough. We have to keep building practical skills, embrace technology and create opportunities for ourselves. Listening to industry leaders gave me confidence that if we prepare ourselves well, there are many opportunities both in Kenya and globally," he said.
