The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
More than 7,350 youths have graduated with various professional courses through the Murang’a Youth Service (MYS) empowership programmes.
Through the MYS programme, an initiative of Government Irungu Kang’ata more youth have continued enrolling in the short courses offered in the polytechnics.
Kang’ata spoke at General Ihura stadium during the graduation of the 5th cohort lauding the youth for enrolling in an empowerment programme designed to unlock their future through acquiring trade courses.
“Since the formulation of the MYS over 7,000 have graduated where they have also been awarded NITA certificates,” said the governor.
Before they enrol in the course they are engaged by the government at Sh500 daily for three months.
He added that upon graduation, the youth are issued with Sh 15,000 business start-up grants and a one year tax exemption certificate each.
He said his administration has facilitated construction and renovation of ECDE centres, health centres, and revival of the domestic water projects.
Deputy Governor Stephen Munania said the programme has helped to empower the youth instead of remaining idle in the market centres.
Munania said the youth who have qualified in plumbing courses are minting profits owing to the increased demand for water connections in the villages.
“ Kang’ata has managed to increase development in all counties of Murang’a, through the use of the MCAs to decide on the community projects in the wards,” said Munania.
MCAs Charles Machigo (Murang’a), Peter Munga( Murarandia and Alex Ndunda (Ithanga) said the leaders are calling for the increase of the youth enrolled in the programme up from 30 per ward to meet the increased demand.
They said owing to the regulations imposed by the Controller of Budget that limited employment, before the county government formulated a short courses programme for the youth.
“ The assembly is ready to allocate more funds to ensure the MYS programmes succeed and enroll a large number of the youth,” said Ndunda.
Munga said owing to the change of the opportunities, the county government should include online writing as part of the courses to support the youth.
“The scenario is changing day to day and we need to introduce the online courses that are marketable to the youth and a lot,” said Munga.
