- 932 youths from seven vocational training centres graduated under the KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri programme in Kajiado, with 77 top performers receiving start-up toolkits to launch enterprises.
- Governor Lenku said the programme has grown from 200 to over 1,400 beneficiaries since inception, with county leaders including Deputy Governor Moshisho and CECM Sereu urging graduates to become job creators.
- KCB Foundation and NITA officials reaffirmed the programme’s national training standards and entrepreneurial impact, citing beneficiary Ben Power Electricals, which now employs over 17 people; the initiative has invested over Sh3 billion in youth enterprises since 2016.
A total of 932 young people from seven vocational training centres in Kajiado County have graduated under the KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri programme, with 77 top-performing trainees awarded start-up toolkits to help them launch their own enterprises.
The graduation, jointly implemented by the KCB Foundation and the Kajiado County Government, combines technical skills training, certification and enterprise support, and forms part of a wider initiative that has, since 2016, trained thousands of young people, invested more than Sh3 billion in youth enterprises and distributed over 5,000 start-up toolkits nationwide.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku described vocational education as one of the county’s most important investments in youth empowerment, noting that services under the programme had been extended to every part of the county, including remote areas.
“We made sure these services are available in every part of the county, including remote areas. Today, we are seeing our graduates becoming self-employed, while others are securing jobs in leading organisations,” he said.
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The Governor revealed that the programme had expanded significantly since its inception, growing from just 200 trainees to more than 1,400 beneficiaries, with more young people expected to enrol in the coming year. “We expect even more young people to benefit next year as we continue expanding opportunities,” he added.
County Executive Committee Member Janet Sereu challenged the graduates to look beyond formal employment and instead become job creators within their communities. “You should create opportunities for yourselves and others. Go out and transform the future of Kajiado County,” she said.
Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho urged the graduates to put their newly acquired expertise to use in supporting the country’s industrial growth, noting that a skilled workforce remains central to Kenya’s industrialisation agenda. “You should go out and multiply what you have received through your education because industrialisation depends on a skilled workforce,” he said.
KCB Foundation Manager Bernard Barasa reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to empowering young people through skills development and entrepreneurship, saying the programme was designed to equip beneficiaries with both employable and entrepreneurial skills. “The programme equips young people with employable and entrepreneurial skills that enable them to build sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
A representative from the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), Musa Opuk, assured the graduates that their qualifications met recognised national training standards. He cited the success of entrepreneur Ben Power Electricals as an example of the programme’s impact, noting that the business, founded by a past graduate, has grown to employ more than 17 people.
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Among the graduates celebrating the milestone was beneficiary Benson Lemayian, who urged his fellow trainees to remain focused and embrace technical skills as a pathway to long-term success. “Technical skills can transform lives. If we remain committed to our professions, we can build successful careers and businesses,” he said.
The 2Jiajiri programme continues to expand across Kajiado County, with officials expressing optimism that the initiative will keep transforming vocational training into sustainable livelihoods for the county’s youth in the years ahead.
By Kimutai Langat
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