Politicians creating a monster by hiring jobless youths to cause violence

The unemployment bomb that many have warned about is no longer waiting to explode. It is exploding before our eyes. Mobilising young people to attack others is now available at the lowest price ever in every corner of Kenya. Even without payment, frustrated and unemployed young people may need only a trigger to jump into action.

Doing something, however bizarre or destructive, can become a way for well-educated but jobless young people to search for meaning. They possess physical and mental energy, yet many have no constructive purpose towards which to direct it. This does not excuse criminal behaviour, but it helps us understand how frustration can make vulnerable people easier to manipulate.

When the government asks foreigners without proper documentation to leave the country, for example, a frustrated young person may volunteer to enforce the directive violently and without regard for human dignity. This a high-stakes order that only trained law enforcers can carry out.

I have digressed. Back to my main argument. We really have to worry about what Kenya will look like in the next year with all the political campaign madness going on. The thousands of unemployed young people see this as an opportunity to be useful, if only to make a coin or two. While joblessness should not be an excuse for anyone to commit crime, we should not be surprised to see even the most well-meaning young person who is battered by life willingly offering to join in violent acts.

The effects of the so-called unemployment time bomb are visible in the ease with which violence can be organised and unleashed. We see daylight robberies, harassment in public spaces and gangs operating as though they were authorised security officers.

Let us be honest with ourselves. It is not easy to be over 20 or 30 years old without a steady income. Every young person dreams of becoming someone, achieving independence and finding a meaningful place in society.

A reminder of developmental psychology is helpful here. Between the ages of 20 and 25, unemployment can delay financial independence, prolong dependence on parents and weaken confidence. This is a period of exploring careers, values and relationships. Repeated rejection can create anxiety, frustration and a painful sense of failure. It may prevent young adults from leaving home, continuing their education or participating fully in social life, making them to feel trapped as their peers move forward.

Between 26 and 30, an unstable income can interfere with the consolidation of adult identity and lasting commitments. It may delay marriage, parenthood, secure housing, professional advancement and financial planning. Many are expected to demonstrate responsibility and contribute to their families, yet unemployment may leave them dependent on those they hoped to support. This pressure can strain relationships, diminish self-worth, and push some into insecure or exploitative work. Persistent disappointment may also weaken their belief that education, patience and honest effort will eventually be rewarded.

Between 31 and 35, unemployment can be even more disruptive because society expects people to have established careers, families and responsibilities. Failure to meet these expectations may produce shame, anger, social withdrawal and a feeling of being left behind. Financial instability can affect parenting, housing and health care. It may force people to question earlier choices and redefine their purpose. Without retraining, counselling, social support or genuine opportunities, some may become vulnerable to recruiters offering money, belonging and recognition through political violence or crime.

These pressures do not automatically turn unemployed people into criminals. Most continue to struggle honestly under difficult circumstances. Nevertheless, economic vulnerability can make some easier to recruit and manipulate.

Political actors who exploit them are not merely buying temporary services. They may be nurturing violence and creating networks that eventually operate beyond their control.

It is therefore in the interest of those in power, together with political parties and campaigners, to stop baiting vulnerable young people with money to attack others. Thousands, and probably millions, have no meaningful engagement. Like fire spreading through dry grass, reckless mobilisation may lead to criminal acts beyond what they were initially paid to do. Some may become emboldened and form gangs that terrorise communities at will.

Dr Mokua is Director Loyola Center for Media and Communications