PCS Musalia Mudavadi, President William Ruto and Cotu boss Francis Atwoll during Labour Day celebrations at Chavakali Boys Highh School in Vihiga County on May 1, 2026
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has defended the Kenya Kwanza administration’s employment record, saying the government has created over 6.2 million jobs since taking office.

Speaking during Labour Day celebrations at Chavakali Boys High School in Vihiga county, Mutua said the labour sector has recorded significant progress under President William Ruto’s administration.

“Let me give figures because they don’t lie. Currently, we have created 1.895 million jobs in the public service. We have employed 128,000 teachers, county governments have employed close to 60,000 people, while the housing sector has employed 640,442 people,” Mutua said.

The CS added that the Kazi Majuu programme has created 583,868 jobs, while the digital economy accounts for 316,806 jobs. Community health volunteers number 107,831, with additional employment generated under the Nyota programme.

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In the private sector, Mutua said small and medium enterprises have created 2.1 million jobs, while the hospitality sector accounts for 1.5 million employment opportunities. The manufacturing sector has reportedly created 443,000 jobs, with transport and communication contributing 75,000 jobs and a further 50,000 in the construction industry.

“Without even mentioning BPOs, if you add the figures, we are talking about over 6.2 million jobs,” he said.

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However, the recently released Economic Survey 2026 presents a different picture of job creation.

The report, which has drawn criticism from President Ruto, indicates that total recorded employment—excluding small-scale agriculture—rose to 21.6 million in 2025, up from 20.8 million in 2024.

“The total number of new jobs generated in the economy in 2025 was 822,100, reflecting a growth of 4.0 per cent, with 105,300 jobs created in the modern sector,” the survey states.

It further notes that the number of self-employed and unpaid family workers in the modern sector increased from 175,500 in 2024 to 179,600 in 2025, while informal sector employment rose by 716,000 jobs to reach 18.1 million.

A review of previous Economic Surveys shows a consistent trend, with Kenya creating an average of about 800,000 jobs annually.

According to the 2024 Economic Survey, the economy created 848,200 jobs in 2023, including 721,000 in the informal sector and 122,900 in the formal sector. This marked a recovery from the 816,600 jobs created in 2022.

The 2025 Economic Survey shows that 782,300 jobs were created in 2024, with 703,700 in the informal sector and 78,600 in the formal sector.

The latest survey also highlights sector-specific growth. Employment in the manufacturing sector grew by 5.6 per cent, making it the leading contributor to private sector wage employment at 16.3 per cent in 2025.

“Agriculture, forestry and fishing, and wholesale and retail trade accounted for 13.9 per cent and 12.5 per cent of total private sector employment, respectively,” the report adds.

Other sectors that recorded notable growth include financial and insurance activities at 4.4 per cent, electricity and gas at 3.8 per cent, and education at 3.5 per cent.

In 2025, the Teachers Service Commission registered an increase of 6.2 per cent in wage employment to 436,300 thousand, while employment in county governments increased by 5.5 per cent to 239,000, the survey says.