Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi has cited unemployment as the major set-back hindering realisation of development in the county.
Addressing youths in Kiambu Town on Saturday, Wamatangi said that the rate of unemployment remains high in the county.
He noted that thousands of youths have no jobs a situation he said has led to rise in crime and poverty.
The Kiambu senator said that despite the initiatives being taken by the government to alleviate unemployment, joblessness remains a huge problem.
“The problem of unemployment is real and needs a different approach in order to effectively curb it,” he said.
Wamatangi said that there is much to be done in order to reduce the unemployment rates, and called for collaboration between the government and the private sector to effectively deal with the problem.
He said that despite many young people going to school and graduating, they still cannot secure jobs.
The Kiambu senate lawmaker asked both the national and county governments to be active and come up with more ways of creating jobs.
The senator at the same time encouraged youths to utilise the opportunities given to them by the government, adding that the Uwezo Fund and other programmes put in place can help reduce unemployment levels.