NAIROBI, Kenya, July 9, 2025 — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has commended private sector players for aligning their efforts with national priorities, particularly youth empowerment and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Speaking during the Huawei LEAP Job Fair held at the University of Nairobi, Kindiki emphasized the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign enterprises.
He urged companies to prioritise Kenyan talent, noting the government’s goal of positioning the country as Africa’s preferred talent hub.
The job fair brought together more than 60 Kenyan and Chinese companies, offering over 1,700 job opportunities to young people.
The event was co-hosted by Huawei, the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA), and the University of Nairobi, under the theme “Unlocking Potential, Building Connections.”
“Technology, youth, and partnerships are the key drivers of future economies,” Kindiki said, encouraging collaboration between government, private enterprise, and training institutions to address youth unemployment and skills gaps.
KCETA President and China Road and Bridge Corporation (Kenya) General Manager Yu Xiaodong noted that Chinese enterprises continue to contribute to Kenya’s development beyond infrastructure.
“This fair is a strong symbol of the growing, results-driven partnership between China and Kenya,” he said.
Yu said Chinese firms are increasingly investing in local employment and training.
For instance, Huawei trains around 6,000 students annually, while KEDA Ceramics has created over 50,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.
Huawei Kenya CEO Gavin Gao reiterated the company’s commitment to digital skills development through the LEAP initiative, which aims to train 100,000 youth in cloud computing, AI, networking, and cybersecurity by 2026.
He also highlighted the Huawei Management Trainee Program, which has seen over 200 graduates trained, 133 of whom have joined the company full-time.
Gao said Huawei is working with more than 50 universities and TVET institutions through ICT academies and is supporting the government’s Digital Superhighway initiative.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan praised the long-standing China-Kenya partnership and said Chinese companies have employed more than 60,000 Kenyans, while also contributing to local education, health, and environmental programs.
