By Kiplat Kapusia
More than 150 young women from marginalized pastoral areas in West Pokot County have graduated after being trained, mentored and empowered on life skills courtesy of county First Lady Dr Mary Lonyangapuo and wives of area Members of County Assembly.
The granduands from economically weaker backgrounds sat examination after a year of training on tailoring and sewing supervised by the Department of Vocational and Technical Training in seven VTCs across the county.
The programme seeks to empower young rural women from vulnerable households who dropped out of school, helping them venture into self-employment and generate income at the household level.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony at Kapenguria Stadium, Dr Lonyangapuo noted that the programme, which started in 2019, provides vulnerable women with skills to help them live a meaningful life.
“Many women have benefited from the programme. We target women in remote areas in all the 20 Wards through collaboration with chiefs and Ward administrators,” she said.
Dr Lonyangapuo lauded the men for the support they gave their women.
“Some men even transported their women on motorbikes to sit their exams. We also thank the county government for donating machines and materials for the programme,” she said.
She explained that the programme will help women to support and supplement men as breadwinners, expressing optimism that it will yield results in the longer term.
“Women have improved their livelihoods and lifestyles in a very short period. I am happy that today rural women are also bread winners in their homes,” she said.
She requested the newly trained women to use the skills they acquired to emancipate themselves economically and socially.
“Many drop out of school and get married at an early age. Many have a hard life because of high poverty levels. We want our women to embrace education. Every woman has a right to a good life,” she said.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo called on more women from marginalized areas to join the programme, which will raise the economic status of the county.
“What we have seen today is not normal .We have never seen rural women go to school to learn life skills,” said Prof Lonyangapuo.
Ms Jane Cheruto, one of the trainees, said the training had changed her life for the better.
“I am now an independent woman, working to supplement my husband’s efforts to support the family. This is a new development because I used to depend on my husband for virtually everything,” she noted.
