17000 youth complete first phase of MYS training in Machakos

17, 000 youth have successfully completed their first phase of training at the Machakos Youth Service (MYS)

Speaking at the pass-out parade, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti disclosed that the Gen z youth protests in June 2024 informed the need to establish the Machakos Youth Service to equip more young adults with skills.

Governor Ndeti said she engaged in extensive public participation across the county after the protests in order to find out the needs of the youth.

“After the Gen z protests, I went round the country collecting views on what the young people wanted. This greatly enriched my understanding on what the youth needed. We thus came up with MYS,”she said.

The MYS program which involves first phase of training in discipline and patriotism followed by further training in various Technical and Vocational Training institutions before graduation and awarding of certificates and various tools of trade is now in its second year.

The first cohort involved 1000 trainees with the second cohort being scaled up to 17,000 students.

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Governor Ndeti said the program focus was not entirely academic but a wider plan to train entrepreneurs who will transform the economy.

“We view it as an economic strategy. We are building an economic power house here in Machakos. Today MYS graduates are disrupting the market. Our young people are job creators and not job seekers ,”she said.

She challenged the youth to be the best in their chosen career paths, be digital and represent the MYS brand wherever they will work.

One of the youth who graduated from the MYS last year said he had made desks and sold to schools while another said he was now a competent motor vehicle mechanic.

Ekalakala Ward representative who is also the County Assembly Majority Leader said there was need to increase the youth budget in the next financial year so as to double the number of MYS recruits.

By Stephen Muthini