Murang’a Youth programme impact the beneficiaries

The ambitious Murang’a Youth Service (MYS) has benefited 9,450 young people through empowerment programmes that have helped them acquire marketable skills.

The beneficiaries after recruitment are deployed through a community service programme to equip them with practical work experience and skills for economic independence.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata says after the community service,  the recruits are attached to vocational training centres where they acquire the technical skills that prepare them for self-employment.

Kang’ata spoke when the 10th cohort of the MYS received work tools and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at designated ward-level distribution centres before embarking on community assignments across the 35 wards.

“The programme is designed to provide the youth with an opportunity to earn an income while contributing to community development and acquiring skills that would improve their chances of securing employment or starting businesses,” he said.

The protective gear is intended to safeguard the youth against workplace hazards as they undertake various community service activities that include unblocking the drainage systems in the rural marketplaces.

Kang’ata said in the programme, the recruits spend two months undertaking paid assignments before proceeding to vocational training centres for three months of skills development.

After they acquire skills, the successful graduates access Sh15,000 start-up capital from the County Government.

“They are further offered a one-year waiver on county business permit fees to give their enterprises room to grow,” said the Youth CEC, Manoah Gachucha.

Mr Gachucha said the training enables the youth to acquire marketable competencies and pursue self-employment or seek opportunities in the formal job market.

“Since the programme started, we have many of the youth doing better and have employed other people; thus, we have seen value for the public resources,” said Gachucha.