Let’s unite in finding solutions to unemployment – Ruto says as he meets church leaders

President William Ruto has held a meeting with bishops, pastors, and evangelists from the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya at the State House in Nairobi.

In a statement on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Ruto urged leaders to refrain from inciting the youths and called for unity.

“Met bishops, pastors, and evangelists from the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya, State House, Nairobi,” he said.

“Leaders must resist the urge to incite the youth. Instead, we must work together to find lasting solutions to the challenge of unemployment,” he urged.

The president outlined several key interventions his administration has implemented to address youth unemployment and improve livelihoods across the country.

He revealed that through labour mobility initiatives, over 400,000 young Kenyans have secured jobs abroad in the last two years.

“On our part, we are making deliberate and intentional interventions to create jobs. Labour mobility has enabled 400,000 young Kenyans to secure employment abroad in the past two years. Here at home, 320,000 young people are fully engaged through the Affordable Housing Programme,” he said.

“Another 180,000 are earning a livelihood in digital jobs in Jitume Labs at our technical colleges and Tatu City Special Economic Zone. Establishment of digital hubs in our 1,450 wards is underway,” he said.

On education, President Ruto emphasised his government’s commitment to expanding access and quality, noting that 76,000 teachers have been hired so far, with 24,000 more set to be recruited by January 2026. 

“The government has also recruited 76,000 teachers, and an additional 24,000 will be recruited by January 2026. This is the largest teacher recruitment drive in our country’s history,” he added.

This comes days after Ruto defended the ongoing construction of a church at State House, saying the project is being financed from his own resources and that he owes no one an apology for it.

Speaking on July 4, 2025, while hosting leaders from Embu County, led by Governor Cecily Mbarire, the president affirmed his personal commitment to faith and dismissed criticism surrounding the initiative.

“Mimi ni mtu naamini kwa Mungu, and I have no apologies to make. Kwa kujenga kanisa, I have no apology, na hakuna mtu nitaomba msamaha,” Ruto said.

He confirmed that the church is indeed being built within the State House compound and acknowledged that the development had attracted media attention.