Can Kenya answer the call for employment?

肯尼亚能回应就业号召吗?

The Inquiry

2026-01-06

23 分钟
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Kenya is facing rising public discontent over allegations of political corruption, economic stagnation and a shortage of good quality jobs, particularly for the country’s Gen Z. One of the government’s flagship responses is an ambitious push into digital outsourcing. It argues that call centres, coding work and other IT-enabled services can position the country as a global hub and generate a million new jobs within five years. The model has worked before in countries such as India and the Philippines, but the global landscape is shifting. Advances in artificial intelligence are already transforming the very roles Kenya hopes to attract, raising questions about whether this strategy can deliver long-term employment at scale. Tanya Beckett asks whether Kenya’s vision for digital outsourcing can provide stability and opportunity for the country. This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: Can Kenya answer the call for employment? Contributors Joy Kiiru, senior lecturer at the Department of Economics and Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya Marcus Larsen, professor at the Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark Deepa Mani, faculty member and deputy Dean for academic programmes at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India Boaz Munga, research consultant at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, Nairobi, Kenya Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey (Photo: President of Kenya William Ruto. Credit: Luis Tato/Getty Images)
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  • Welcome to the Inquiry with me Tanya Beckett from the BBC World Service.

  • One question, four expert witnesses and an answer.

  • It's June 2025 and the death of a 31-year-old teacher,

  • Albert Omondi Ojuang, in police custody in Nairobi, has sparked a wave of public anger.

  • His arrest, reportedly linked to a social media post criticising the police,

  • has become a flashpoint for wider unrest across Kenya.

  • But this was not an isolated protest.

  • This past year has seen a series of demonstrations reflecting growing frustration with the government's handling of economic challenges and governance.

  • Many Kenyans, particularly young people, have taken to the streets to express their discontent.

  • Their grievances range from allegations of corruption and police misconduct to a lack of opportunities when it comes to work.

  • The government claims it has a plan to boost jobs.

  • It wants to turn the country into a global hub for outsourced digital services,

  • claiming this would create one million jobs in five years through call centres,

  • coding and IT enabled work.

  • It's a vision inspired by the success of countries in Asia, such as India and the Philippines.

  • But could it work in East Africa?

  • This week on The Inquiry, we're asking, can Kenya answer the call for employment?

  • Part 1,

  • Chopless Growth Kenya is one of the largest and most dynamic countries on the African continent.

  • its fast-expanding economy ranking sixth behind powerhouses such as South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt.