Outcry After 576 Applicants Apply for One Entry-Level Job in Kiambu County

Nearly 600 young Kenyans applied for a single creative job opportunity in Kiambu County, highlighting the growing pressure facing the country’s unemployed youth.

On January 25, the office of Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa posted an advertisement for one position: Photographer and Video Editor. The role required documenting public interest activities, often in unpredictable and politically volatile environments.

When the application window closed, the numbers told a powerful story.

A total of 576 applications had been submitted for the single vacancy — 533 from male applicants and 43 from female applicants.

Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa on Unemployment 

In a statement released on March 4, Senator Thang’wa described the overwhelming response as more than just a recruitment update. According to him, it reflects the deeper challenge of youth unemployment in Kenya.

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“Nearly 600 qualified young Kenyans are competing for one job. This is not a statistic to celebrate. It is a situation that must be addressed,” he noted.

The senator also questioned the effectiveness of existing youth employment initiatives such as the Nyota Program, a donor-funded national government project aimed at tackling youth unemployment.

“If a single entry-level creative position attracts this level of desperation, we must ask whether these programs are truly working,” he said.

Interestingly, the applications also revealed another side of Kenya’s youth. Many applicants demonstrated a willingness to work in difficult conditions, including covering events where journalists and photographers may face police pressure, tear gas, or politically charged situations.

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For Senator Thang’wa, this sends a clear message.

Kenya’s young people are not lacking talent or courage. They are simply lacking opportunities.

While only one candidate will ultimately secure the position, the senator acknowledged the effort of all applicants and indicated that their profiles would remain part of a growing talent pool for future opportunities.

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A photo of Kiambu Senator, Karungo wa Thang’wa. PHOTO/Sen. Karungo (X)