Official Opening Of The 8th Kippra Annual Regional Conference 2025
The 8th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference continues today, Thursday, 22nd May 2025 with the aim of prioritizing youth engagement, fostering essential skills, and supporting their transition into higher-value roles.
While officially inaugurating the 8th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference 2025 at the Kenya School of Government, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Salim Mvurya highlighted that the conference theme aligns well with the National Vision, particularly the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the Fourth-Medium Term Plan (MTP IV). Kenya seeks to unlock the potential of its youth to drive sustainable economic growth, he added.
During the Conference, the CS Hon. Salim Mvurya also presided over the launch of the KIPPRA Publications which primarily focus on Gender-Related Books.
The main objective of the conference is to boost youth employment in Kenya. This is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable development, reducing inequalities, and advancing the local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
“Over the years, KIPPRA has been instrumental in creating programs and capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering the youth of Kenya and promoting innovation,” CS Mvurya reiterated.
Transforming Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is one of the five key pillars of the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). As such, empowering youth with entrepreneurial skills, access to startup capital, support to overcome market challenges, and promoting technology adoption will create strong linkages that will enable active youth participation in the Economy.
The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda under the Kenya’s Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) presents a comprehensive strategy to address the youth unemployment by promoting sustainable employment in sectors such as agriculture, green economies among others.
The State Department for Economic Planning Principal Secretary, Dr. Bonface Makokha, presented a keynote Address on behalf of the National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary Hon. FCPA John Mbadi. In his Remarks, CS Mbadi highlighted that the MTP IV of the Kenya Vision 2030, anchors the youth development and empowerment
In his address, CS Mbadi presented a detailed analysis of the current employment situation in the country and emphasized the urgent need to create job opportunities for the country’s expanding youth population.
“We are committed to creating an enabling environment for job creation by improving infrastructure, simplifying business processes and fostering public-private partnerships. These measures will attract investments and spur economic growth,” CS Mbadi stated.
He further, emphasized on the importance of collaborations stating that the private sector, development partners and civil society should play its part by creating accessible pathways for internships, mentorships, and apprenticeships that helps to bridge the gap between education and employment.
The Government is cognisant of the fact that the youth is an important and significant segment of Kenya’s population. As such issues of youth are at the centre of Country’s long-term, medium-term and sectoral plans.
In attendance were: KIPPRA Board Chair, Prof. Paul Wachana, KIPPRA Ag. Executive Director, Dr. Eldah Onsomu, SDEP Ag. Economic Planning Secretary, Timothy Gakuu, Kenya School of Government, Director General, Prof. Nura Mohamed and KIPPRA Board Members among others.
