Mashinani Youth Voices
At Mashinani Youth Voices, we recognize the potential & aspirations of young people in Kenya and is committed to supporting them in their journey towards financial independence.
Our work focuses primarily on grassroots communities, targeting unemployed and underemployed youth, young entrepreneurs and women groups. We operate at the local level with a vision of national impact.
Our interventions help to expand employment opportunities for young people by strengthening their entrepreneurial capacity and supporting the growth of innovative youth-led enterprises. This is achieved through provision of digital skills & entrepreneurship training, financial support through Mashinani Multi-Purpose SACCO and mentorship to help youth transform their ideas into realities.
Why Mashinani Youth Voices CBO was Formed
Kenya has a very youthful population with approximately 75% of its 58.6 million citizens under the age of 35. Based on The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2025, young people aged 15-35 constitute 35% of the population and this demographic represents a significant majority of the country’s population.
This burgeoning youth population might ordinarily symbolize an ample & energetic workforce, a boon for the development prospects of any region. However, Kenya is currently plagued by extremely high youth unemployment that hinders economic progress and continues to snuff out youth potential.
This massive and growing youth population represents a tremendous opportunity to accelerate economic & social progress but the current crisis of high unemployment and underemployment of youth across the country jeopardizes these development prospects.
While the overall unemployment rate in Kenya stands at 12.7%, the rate for youth (15-34 yrs) is significantly higher at 67% according to The Federation of Kenyan employers 2025 (FKE).
The consequences of youth unemployment extend beyond financial instability, they can lead to social unrest, increased crime rates and a general sense of hopelessness among young people.
Addressing this issue therefore is not just a matter of economic necessity but a moral imperative that requires immediate attention and action.
Skills development also act as a bridge between academic qualifications and real world job requirements. It equips young individuals with the tools they need to navigate a constantly changing labor market successfully. With specialized training, youth are more adaptable and equipped to meet diverse job requirements thereby standing out in the competitive job market.
Our digital & entrepreneurship skills training program aims to equip young individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge and entrepreneurial acumen to overcome the challenges of the modern world. We recognize that beyond traditional education, the acquisition of practical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial for fostering innovation, resilience and self-reliance.
The program ensures that all young people with entrepreneurial ambitions, regardless of their education level, can access training and mentorship opportunities to build sustainable businesses.
Despite gains in education access over the past several decades, a digital & entrepreneurship skills gap remains, fueling a need for training opportunities.
Although young people in Kenya are more likely to pursue formal education, upon graduation, they often find that they are not adequately prepared for the world of work because skills relevant to key growth sectors of the modern economy are often not covered in traditional education systems. The employers often find a skills-mismatch between the competencies youth need to succeed in the workplace and those they actually possess.
Lack of productive and decent jobs remains the largest labor market challenge for young people in Kenya. Many young people lack the necessary skills and experience that employers seek leading to a disconnect between education and employment. This gap creates a cycle of frustration and disillusionment as young people invest time and resources into their education only to find themselves unprepared for the workforce.
We are therefore shifting towards a skill-based economy, where the focus is on whether a person has the right skills & competencies for a particular role rather than having the right degree, job history or previous job titles.
Skills development plays a crucial role in shaping the employment prospects of young individuals. In today’s competitive job market, possessing the right skills is essential for securing meaningful employment opportunities. The rapidly evolving nature of industries & technological advancements have made it imperative for young job seekers to continuously upgrade their skills to stay relevant.
What Brings us Together
