President William Ruto’s unfulfilled 2022 campaign pledge to create 4 million jobs for unemployed Kenyan youths with a Sh200 billion investment has fuelled widespread unrest, culminating in his fiery remarks during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025.
Speaking in Kilimani, Nairobi, on July 9, Ruto expressed frustration with protesting youths, asserting that unemployment predates his presidency and accusing critics of inciting chaos.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported 31 deaths during the protests, nearly triple the police’s claim of 11, intensifying public anger over Ruto’s handling of the crisis and his broken job creation promise.
During his 2021 campaign, Ruto promised to allocate Sh100 billion annually to youth empowerment programs, including the Hustler Fund, to create 4 million jobs in his first year, a figure political analyst Mark Bichachi deemed unsustainable due to technological advancements reducing labour needs.
Voters shared 2022 campaign clips of Ruto’s promises, contrasting them with his recent claim that “unemployment isn’t my problem”, accusing him of betraying voters.
The backlash reflects Gen Z’s heartbreak over unfulfilled pledges amid a 38.9% youth unemployment rate, with 800,000 young people entering the job market annually.
The Saba Saba protests, which shut down 17 counties and cost Sh18 billion in daily GDP, were driven by economic woes, corruption allegations, and police brutality, including the fatal shooting of a Nyamira student that led to the burning of Itibo Police Station.
Ruto’s administration claims progress, citing 320,000 jobs created through the Affordable Housing Programme, 180,000 in digital roles, and 400,000 via overseas placements like Kazi Majuu.
However, critics argue these numbers fall short of the 4 million promised, with the jobs Kenya report noting a skills mismatch as 2 million graduates compete for just 800,000 jobs annually.
Ruto’s defensive stance, including blaming predecessors and dismissing protests as “criminal”, has deepened distrust.
Youth forum leader in Kakamega claims, “Youth were unemployed before, but Ruto promised 4 million jobs… If 12 million were working, we wouldn’t see this unrest.”
Analysts like Karuti Kanyinga warn that Ruto’s low public confidence and authoritarian tactics could escalate violence as the 2027 elections loom.
The government’s recent National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, backed by a Sh20 billion World Bank partnership, aims to employ 800,000 youths but faces doubt due to past unfulfilled pledges.
As protests continue, Ruto’s failure to deliver on his 4 million jobs promise remains a flashpoint, with Kenyans demanding tangible economic reforms and an end to police violence.
