13/12/2025
Kuria raises alarm over 1.1 million graduates amid focus on expressways
Concerns have been raised about the government’s heavy focus on large road projects at a time when unemployment remains a major problem.
Former CS Moses Kuria says building new highways, while important, will not solve the deeper issue of joblessness facing millions of young Kenyans.
Kuria spoke after President William Ruto used the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium to announce several multibillion-shilling road projects, including a proposed 60-kilometre Nairobi–Thika Expressway.
According to Kuria, such announcements sound impressive but do little to reassure young people who are worried about finding work.
He pointed out that this year alone, about 1.1 million students completed the KJSEA exams, the highest number Kenya has ever recorded in a single year.
These students are expected to join the job market in about three years. Kuria warned that without clear plans to create jobs, the country could face serious social and economic pressure.
In his view, real job creation must come from a strong private sector.
He said businesses need supportive government policies, affordable loans, and incentives that allow industries to grow and hire more people. Roads, he argued, should support economic activity, not replace plans for employment.
President Ruto, on his part, defended the infrastructure push, listing ongoing and planned upgrades such as the JKIA–Waiyaki Way corridor and major highways linking Nairobi to Nakuru, Mau Summit, Mai Mahiu, and Naivasha.
Kuria’s remarks have added to public debate on whether the government is striking the right balance between big construction projects and policies that directly address unemployment and the high cost of living.
