Youth groups in Mombasa, Kenya, have issued an urgent call for engagement with the county government, citing a high unemployment rate and lack of inclusion in local development programs. If their demands are not addressed, they have threatened to stage protests across the city.
Led by Elizabeth Mawia, a prominent youth activist, the groups are urging Governor Abdulswamad Nassir to convene an immediate meeting to discuss pressing issues affecting young people.
Their concerns extend beyond unemployment to include drug abuse eradication, social and economic inclusion, and the need for youth-friendly spaces and programs.
“We are asking the government to involve us in the social economic development because the economic empowerment and inclusion in the county government is not factoring the youth rights and duty to participation,” Mawia said.
During a gathering on Wednesday, 27 August, the youth, representing legal, teaching, and activist sectors, also called for gender issues to be prioritised in county programs and for solutions to challenges facing at-risk youth.
Maureen Atieno and Afsa Riyaz criticised the county for sidelining young people in all development processes, demanding full inclusion in decision-making.
“Mombasa lacks transparency in all processes. We have witnessed a problem in empowerment projects as some of the empowerments currently undertaken by the county are politically based,” said Atieno. “The absence of youth centers is a huge gap; even after budgets were allocated to establish these important centers, nothing has materialized. We demand to see these centers and know the budgets allocated,” added another youth leader.
Currently, Mombasa’s youth unemployment rate stands at 40 percent, leaving a significant number of young people living in poverty. Riyaz stressed the need for dialogue to build partnerships with the county government. “We want an open dialogue on pressing issues affecting the youth, explore potential synergies for creating solutions to the problems, as well as identify actionable strategies for partnerships,” she said.
Responding to the concerns, Governor Nassir said the county government is investing in youth-focused programs aimed at creating sustainable employment. “We are committed to empowering our young people through structured programs in sectors like technology and the environment. These initiatives will not only create jobs but also equip our youth with skills for the future,” he said.
As part of the “Mombasa Yangu” program, Nassir announced a street-cleaning initiative launching in September, which will employ young people for three months with salaries, providing both income and work experience.
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