Youths are people from the age of 18 to 34 years, they are the future generation of the society. The older generation is hence doing all they can to ensure that the youths remain with adequate skills a knowledge to steer the country. The constitution of Kenya also advocates for quality teaching and training of the youths as the future generation. Kericho county has taken a step further to ensure that they fulfill this act, the county government has involved youths in its economic plans in so many ways;
This launch was steered by the former Governor Prof. Paul Chepkwony who directed the collaboration between the board of governors and Godrej Group of Companies dealing with cosmetics and darling hair products as part of national Government competence-based education for vocational training centers.
We are very excited about the partnership as it will fulfil our objective of empowering lives of the county youth
Prof. Paul Chepkwony
The initiative will be implemented in 21 other counties in Kenya. With time, some of the trainings including hairdressing and beauty therapy, financial literacy, communication and business skills will equip youth with capacity that will enable them to start their own businesses and even earn income from it.
The event was held at Chebigen technical training institute which was officially opened by the Governor he also offered a cheque of Ksh.2.25 million which will help in the start up of the institution and its running.
- Agriculture
On January 13th 2023, the county government of Kericho held an opening of the Kericho County Agricultural exhibition held at Chelilis Primary school, the event was mostly to empower youth to venture into the agriculture and trade sector. The county held a 2 days training where they promised to provide youths with capital that will enable them start up in agriculture.
Some of the possible business ventures in Kericho as highlighted by the Governor are horticulture, pyrethrum and coffee farming. The youths were encouraged to go into groups and practice cultivation for tea, pyrethrum and coffee.It was also mentioned that the government had distributed over 500 tea seedlings to 60 household in Londiani sub-county and has promised to give more seedlings to the youths.
Kericho County is known nationally for its production of tea as a cash crop and for local use. This is one of the other agricultural ventures that youths are encouraged to look into, since it has provided employment for most people in the county. Youths can work in the farms, they can work in tea factories which are more than three in the county, they can also help in advertising the crops or selling the crops in the area.
- Kericho Youth Centre
Kericho Youth Centre is a Non-profit Organization in Kericho County for youth between the age of 15-35 years. The organization main aim is to provide better HIV/AIDS prevention services, and help youths who live in poverty, those who are school drop outs, victims of Female Genital Mutilation, forced marriages in the area, and youth who are victims of sexual and physical abuse of both genders.
This has made the youth in the area feel safer and more at peace and also provided employment to some of the youths in the area.
The presence of Kericho Youth Center has also enabled the youths to be able to voice their issues. The youths are able to speak out in crowds and venture into things they were initially afraid of. This has enabled them to be confident because of the support they have had.
On Kericho Governor, Dr. Erick Mutai steered the second cohort of 90 interns joining the first 210 commissioned. This program ensured the best training jobs for the interns commissioned. It also encouraged the youths to be more prepared for job opportunities. Through this the Governor also encouraged with more people in the work force to partner with the county assembly and ensure that they provide these youths with job opportunities.
On September 19th this year, the county advertised one year internship for 210 interns on different jobs, for degree holders, there were 104 vacancies and diploma holders 106 vacancies, having graduated within the last three years. This provided a great opportunity for the unemployed youths in the area. Launching of the Wezesha Jamii youth empowerment initiative
Launching of Wezesha Jamii youth Empowerement initiative,Agriculture, Kericho Youth Centre and 2nd Phase of Kericho County Internship Program are just some of the initiatiaves that the government has taken to ensure that youths in this county are empowered for a greater future and generation.
