CS Ogamba Urges TVET Graduates to Embrace Entrepreneurship Over Job-Seeking

Cabinet Secretary Champions Self-Reliance as Solution to Youth Unemployment Crisis

Nairobi – December 1, 2025

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has issued a strong call to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates to shift their mindset from job-seeking to job-creation, positioning entrepreneurship as the key to unlocking Kenya’s economic potential.

Speaking at a recent forum, CS Ogamba challenged young Kenyans completing their technical training to embrace their role as entrepreneurs and problem-solvers rather than waiting for formal employment opportunities that remain scarce in the current economic climate.

A Call for Innovation and Drive

“The future of Kenya’s economy does not lie in producing job-seekers, but in nurturing job-creators,” Ogamba told the audience. “Our TVET graduates have the skills, the training, and the technical knowledge. What we need now is for them to harness their imagination and drive to build enterprises that will transform our nation.”

The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that technical and vocational trainees are uniquely positioned to address real-world problems through innovative solutions, citing the diverse skill sets acquired through TVET programs ranging from construction and mechanics to information technology and creative arts.

Ogamba’s message aligns with a growing push across African economies to foster entrepreneurial ecosystems as traditional employment sectors struggle to absorb the continent’s expanding youth population.

Government Support on Offer

To back up his challenge, CS Ogamba pointed to various government initiatives under President William Ruto’s administration designed to support young entrepreneurs. Chief among these are expanded scholarship programs and accessible loan schemes specifically targeting youth entering the job market.

“The government has put structures in place to ensure our young people have the financial and technical support they need to start their own ventures,” Ogamba explained. “From scholarships that ease the burden of training costs to loans with favorable terms, we are creating an enabling environment for youth enterprise.”

The initiatives form part of President Ruto’s broader economic agenda, which prioritizes preparing Kenya’s youth for opportunities in the digital economy and creative industries—sectors identified as high-growth areas with significant potential for job creation.

Programs such as the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) reforms and the Hustler Fund have been touted as vehicles to provide seed capital and working capital to young entrepreneurs, particularly those emerging from technical training institutions.

Mixed Reactions from the Ground

While Ogamba’s call for self-reliance has been welcomed by some sectors, it has also sparked debate about the practical realities facing young Kenyans attempting to start businesses.

Business advocacy groups and youth organizations have praised the emphasis on entrepreneurship, particularly given Kenya’s stubbornly high youth unemployment rate, which official statistics place above 35 percent. For these supporters, fostering an entrepreneurial culture represents a pragmatic response to a job market unable to accommodate the thousands of graduates entering it annually.

“We need to change the narrative that success only comes through formal employment,” said Peter Njoroge, director of a youth empowerment organization. “CS Ogamba is right that our TVET graduates have immense potential to create their own opportunities.”

However, critics have been quick to highlight the significant obstacles that young entrepreneurs face when attempting to translate technical skills into viable businesses.

The Reality Check: Barriers to Entry

Youth leaders and business associations have pointed to several systemic challenges that make entrepreneurship far more difficult than government rhetoric suggests.

Chief among these concerns is Kenya’s taxation regime, which small business owners describe as punitive. Multiple levies, licensing fees, and compliance costs can quickly overwhelm young entrepreneurs operating on thin margins with limited capital.

“You can have all the skills and imagination in the world, but when you’re hit with county fees, national taxes, and constant inspections demanding bribes, many young businesses simply can’t survive,” explained Mary Wanjiku, who runs a youth business incubator in Nairobi.

Corruption remains another major impediment. Young entrepreneurs frequently report demands for kickbacks from licensing officials, challenges in accessing government contracts without connections, and harassment from various regulatory bodies.

Access to capital also presents a more complex picture than government assurances suggest. While loan programs exist, critics note that interest rates remain high, collateral requirements often exclude young people without property, and the approval process can be opaque and discouraging.

“The loans are there on paper, but the reality of accessing them is different,” said James Omondi, a TVET graduate who struggled for months to secure funding for his welding business. “Banks still want guarantors and collateral that most young people simply don’t have.”

Economic Headwinds

The broader economic context further complicates the entrepreneurship picture. Kenya’s economy has faced significant headwinds including inflation, currency depreciation, and reduced consumer spending power—all of which make starting and sustaining a business particularly challenging.

The high cost of doing business, from expensive electricity to unreliable infrastructure, adds to the burden on young entrepreneurs who lack the financial cushion to weather difficult periods.

“It’s not just about having skills or even capital,” noted Dr. Samuel Mwangi, an economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi. “The entire business environment needs to be conducive. When established businesses are struggling, expecting fresh graduates to succeed where others are failing may be unrealistic without serious reforms.”

A Path Forward?

Despite the challenges, there is consensus that fostering entrepreneurship among TVET graduates must be part of Kenya’s economic strategy. The debate centers not on whether young people should embrace self-employment, but on how to make that path genuinely viable.

Stakeholders are calling for comprehensive reforms that go beyond speeches and loan programs. Recommendations include streamlining business registration processes, reducing the tax burden on micro and small enterprises, cracking down on corruption in licensing and regulation, and investing in business development services that provide mentorship and market linkages.

“CS Ogamba’s message is important, but it must be matched with concrete action to remove the barriers young entrepreneurs face,” said Catherine Njeri of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance. “Give them the enabling environment, and they will create the jobs Kenya needs.”

As Kenya grapples with the dual challenges of youth unemployment and economic transformation, the debate over entrepreneurship versus formal employment is likely to intensify. For the thousands of TVET graduates entering the workforce each year, the choice may ultimately be less about preference and more about necessity—making the government’s role in facilitating successful self-employment all the more critical.