Youth Employment Surges as Iten Modern Market Transforms Local Economy

The construction of a modern market in Iten, Kenya has significantly boosted youth employment, transforming the local economy and providing opportunities for hundreds of young people. Motorcycle sales in Kenya more than doubled in 2025, reaching a four-year high, driven by a more stable Kenyan shilling and reduced interest rates on loans. Kenya added approximately 716,800 new jobs in 2025, with the overwhelming majority originating from the informal sector. The government has launched a policy brief aimed at enhancing the role of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the nation's circular economy within the agri-food sector. Kenya's agricultural sector's value grew to Sh1.75 trillion in 2025, despite a decrease in the production of key cash crops like tea and sugarcane, with farmers' overall earnings seeing a marginal increase.