Kenya has invested heavily in digital infrastructure, from high-speed internet and mobile money to digital skills programmes and innovation hubs. Yet despite producing thousands of university graduates every year, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Africa Technology Show, held alongside the 11th China Trade Week at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), political and reputation strategist Mundalo M. Advice argued that Kenya’s biggest barrier to unlocking the full potential of its digital economy is no longer access to technology or funding, but a mindset that discourages initiative, critical thinking and problem-solving.
"The reality is that opportunity is actually there," he said.
"Government and private platforms have placed dozens of programmes on the table, from the Youth Enterprise Development Fund to digital literacy initiatives, coding programmes and local BPO hubs."
Advice said many young people spend hours online every day but rarely use that time to identify opportunities that could advance their careers or businesses.
"The problem is not that there are no opportunities. The problem is an information and initiative gap," he said.
"We spend an average of five hours online every day in Kenya. But what are we doing in those five hours? How many young people spend even five minutes researching what public or private tools exist that they can leverage? Very few."
Degrees alone are no longer enough
Advice challenged graduates to rethink the value of higher education in today’s economy, arguing that employers increasingly value people who can solve problems rather than those who simply hold academic qualifications.
"We have thousands of graduates filing up degree papers, but there is a massive skill and mindset gap," he said.
"Many people know they have a degree and therefore feel entitled to a job, but when asked what specific problem they can solve in the economy, they have no answer."
He said he often asks unemployed graduates a question designed to challenge their understanding of the value they can bring to the economy.
"What is Kenya missing since you are unemployed?" he said.
"What is this unique value or capability that you are supposed to offer our ecosystem that we are lacking today because you aren't working?"
"If you cannot answer that question, then you are not a solution; you simply want a job to earn a living. The modern digital economy doesn't pay for certificates; it pays for problem-solving capacity."
Politics and pessimism
Advice also criticised what he described as the growing influence of politics on how young people assess economic opportunities and government programmes.
He argued that many evaluate such initiatives based on political narratives rather than their practical value.
"If a political leader tells his constituency that a government digital programme or housing project is bad, young people blindly reject it without reading the documentation or testing it for themselves," he said.
"We are thinking politically instead of thinking logically, and politics gets in the way of economic progress."
Beyond politics, Advice said a defeatist mindset prevents many young people from pursuing opportunities that are available to them.
"A majority of young people simply do not believe they can succeed," he said.
"They believe the odds of failing are higher than the odds of succeeding, so when an opportunity appears, they doubt it before they even try."
From job seekers to solution creators
To help young Kenyans compete in the digital economy, Advice urged graduates to shift from simply seeking employment to creating value.
He encouraged them to use online platforms and generative AI tools to strengthen their skills, build public portfolios and identify emerging career opportunities.
He also urged young professionals to showcase their work on platforms such as GitHub, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok, saying employers and investors increasingly look for evidence of practical skills rather than certificates alone.
The discussion formed part of broader conversations at the Africa Technology Show on how Kenya can convert its strong digital infrastructure into inclusive economic growth, innovation and employment.
While Kenya has built globally recognised digital payment systems and continues to expand internet connectivity, panellists agreed that technology alone will not deliver prosperity unless it is matched by entrepreneurship, continuous learning and a stronger culture of problem-solving among the country’s youth.
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