BrighterMonday and Mastercard unveil landmark report to equip Kenya's youth with future-ready skills
BrighterMonday Managing Director Sarah Ndegwa speaking during launching ceremony of Skills Gap and Gender Analysis Report 2025 in Nairobi on November 6, 2025. Photo/BrighterMonday
BrighterMonday Kenya, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has unveiled a landmark report aimed at equipping young Kenyans with market-ready skills and driving inclusive growth across the country.
The Skills Gap and Gender Analysis Report 2025 and its accompanying Policy Brief on the Future of Work in Kenya outline key insights on Kenya’s evolving job market, skills demand, and the need for stronger collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector.
Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi on Thursday, BrighterMonday Kenya Managing Director Sarah Ndegwa described the report as a major milestone in the organisation’s Generation Kazi programme, which focuses on upskilling and reskilling young people.
“This report is a critical milestone in our GenKazi journey,” she said.
“It has opened our eyes to gaps in both technical and soft skills, helping us see where reforms and partnerships are most needed.”
She said the findings show that most young people complete their education without the practical skills required by employers.
“We must align training to market demand by reforming curricula and expanding work-based learning such as apprenticeships and graduate programmes,” she said.
Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Talents, Skills Development and Care, Brian Mulama, commended BrighterMonday Kenya for its research, saying it provides valuable data for policy formulation and youth empowerment.
“This report is one that every government office should have on its table,” he said.
“It highlights the gaps we must address to make sure our young people--who make up 70 percent of the population--have the right qualifications for the jobs they seek.”
From the State Department for Gender Affairs, Nancy Chebet emphasised that inclusivity must remain central to Kenya’s employment agenda.
“Gender is about ensuring no one is left behind,” she said.
“Now that BrighterMonday has identified the existing gaps and developed a policy to address them, we’re confident more young people will be absorbed into the labour market in the future.”
The report shows that ICT and digital skills remain the most in-demand competencies, with 75.9 percent of employers ranking them as critical.
It also highlights communication, teamwork, and problem-solving as top soft skills valued across sectors.
Through its Generation Kazi programme under the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works initiative, BrighterMonday Kenya continues to train and connect youth aged 18–35 to decent work opportunities--with 70 percent of participants being women, 70 percent non-urban youth, and 10 percent persons with disabilities.
