The Elgeyo Marakwet County government, in partnership with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Foundation, has successfully graduated at least 800 youth from the KCB 2jiajiri programme.
This milestone marks the second cohort of students to complete the skill-based technical training programme, which aims to empower young people with employable skills and entrepreneurial knowledge.
Governor Wisley Rotich, while attending the graduation ceremony in Iten, lauded the programme, terming it a good way to eradicate poverty. He emphasised the importance of technical skills in driving economic growth and creating employment opportunities.
The governor noted that the program has been instrumental in equipping young people with the skills necessary to start their businesses and become self-reliant.
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Some of the courses undertaken included plumbing, electrical, welding and fabrication, hairdressing, masonry, Mechanical, food processing, garment making and tailoring, among others.
To support the graduates in their self-employment journey, over 200 students were gifted start-up toolkits. These toolkits will enable them to kick-start their entrepreneurial ventures and apply the skills they have acquired. The KCB Foundation’s effort to provide technical skills training and business development support is designed to catalyse economic growth by tackling youth unemployment at the grassroots level.
The KCB 2jiajiri program director, Benard Barasa, said the achievement is a testament to the power of partnership between the county government and private sector organisations. By pooling resources and expertise, they aim to create a cadre of skilled youth who can drive economic growth and development in the county.
“The program’s impact is evident in the number of graduates who have acquired skills that can enable them to secure employment or start their businesses,” remarked Barasa.
As the county government continues to support initiatives that empower youth, the KCB 2jiajiri program is poised to play a critical role in shaping the economic future of Elgeyo Marakwet County. With its focus on technical skills training and entrepreneurship development, the program is helping to create a new generation of self-reliant and innovative young people who can drive growth and development in the county.
By Philemon Kiprop
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