Inject Party leader Morara Kebaso has defended his call for large numbers of young Kenyans to attend the Jobless Rally at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, on Monday, March 24, 2025.
In a press release issued on Sunday, March 23, 2025, Kebaso reiterated that the demonstration is not just an act of protest but a clarion call for urgent action to address the worsening unemployment crisis that continues to cripple the future of millions of Kenyan youth.
Kebaso, who has been vocal about youth empowerment and job creation, stated that the government has consistently failed to provide meaningful employment opportunities, leaving many young people unable to sustain themselves, afford basic needs, or even start families. He emphasised that unemployment is a crisis that has led to increased poverty, crime, mental health struggles, and economic stagnation and hailed that the rally aims to highlight these harsh realities.
“The youth of Kenya are jobless; they are struggling; they cannot feed themselves; they cannot survive; and they cannot even get married because they simply have no source of income. If you are a young person without a job, you are a jobless youth, and this rally is for you. We are launching the Jobless Youth Movement to demand what is rightfully ours—employment, dignity, and a future in this country. On March 24th, we will be at Uhuru Park, and I urge every unemployed Kenyan to show up so that together we can make our voices heard,” Kebaso said in the statement.
Jab at Ruto
The activist further criticised the government for failing to prioritise youth employment while continuing to introduce policies such as the Housing Levy and the Social Health Authority (SHA), which, he argued, do not benefit jobless youth as they lack payslips to contribute to these programs.
He pointed out that while the government expects unemployed youth to take up casual construction jobs under the Affordable Housing program and the Nairobi River regeneration project, these are not sustainable employment solutions. Instead, he called for a comprehensive national employment policy that prioritises youth employment, skills development, fair wages, and job security.
“Let us show them how many youth are unemployed and unable to feed themselves. Even the plans they are making, such as the housing program, do not benefit the youth because they do not even have payslips. They cannot even pay for the SHA health insurance because they do not have a payslip. Let us meet at Uhuru Park and stand in solidarity to fight for our right to work and live in this country,” he urged.
In the press release, Kebaso outlined several key demands that the rally seeks to push forward, including a transparent and merit-based recruitment process in the public sector, an end to corruption and nepotism in job allocation, and increased investment in industrialisation, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship to create long-term job opportunities.
“We demand government accountability and policy reforms. The government must take responsibility and implement effective strategies to tackle joblessness. We demand: #KaziSasa… Transparent and merit-based recruitment processes in the public sector to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all Kenyans.”
He also called for education system reforms to ensure university and college curricula align with the current job market demands and for the government to provide funding and tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to encourage job creation.
Kebaso made it clear that the Jobless Rally is not just a one-day event but the beginning of a national movement aimed at ensuring the government and private sector prioritise sustainable job creation. He called for the inclusion of unemployed youth in national economic planning, demanding that they be given a seat at the table in key government economic committees overseeing employment policies. He further insisted on the establishment of an annual national employment report to track job creation progress and hold the government accountable for its promises.
“The Jobless Rally is not just a one-day protest-it is the beginning of a national movement for economic justice, job creation, and dignity for unemployed Kenyans. We are determined to ensure that no Kenyan is denied a job because of corruption or nepotism. All job seekers have a fair chance at employment based on merit. The government and private sector prioritise sustainable job creation. Every Kenyan has the right to decent work and fair pay. This is more than a rally-it is a movement for dignity, fairness, and the right to work.”
