- A total of 540 young people have completed the KISIP II Nyota Initiative skills development programme in Nakuru.
- The programme equipped participants with entrepreneurship, business management and workplace skills.
- Officials say youth empowerment remains critical in addressing unemployment and promoting economic growth.
For hundreds of young people living in Nakuru’s informal settlements, graduation from the KISIP II Nyota Initiative marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope, opportunity and economic empowerment.
A total of 540 youths have completed a three-month skills development programme designed to equip them with entrepreneurship, business management and workplace skills needed to compete in today’s labour market.
The initiative, implemented under the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP II), combines life skills training, workplace exposure, business support and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to enhance employability and self-reliance among young people.
Addressing graduates during the certification ceremony, KISIP National Assistant Director Thomas Nyamwaro said the programme reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring residents of informal settlements benefit from both physical infrastructure development and economic empowerment.
“As we improve roads, drainage systems and other infrastructure in informal settlements, we must also invest in people. Young people are our greatest asset, and empowering them with practical skills is key to unlocking economic opportunities,” said Nyamwaro.
He emphasized that skills development remains one of the most effective ways of addressing unemployment and poverty among young people.
“When youth are equipped with relevant competencies, they become more employable, more innovative and better positioned to create businesses that support local economic growth,” he said.
Enhancing employability
KISIP County Coordinator Laban Ndwaru noted that many youths in informal settlements face challenges ranging from limited educational opportunities to restricted access to jobs and vocational training.
“This programme has enhanced not only employability but also confidence, financial literacy and responsible citizenship among the participants,” said Ndwaru.
The graduation comes against a backdrop of growing concern over youth unemployment across Kenya and Africa.
According to the African Development Bank, between 10 and 12 million young Africans enter the labour market annually, yet only about three million formal jobs are created each year.
Nyota Initiative representative Bernard Kibisu challenged the graduates to view learning as a continuous journey.
“The labour market is changing rapidly. The skills you have gained today should be the foundation upon which you build greater opportunities tomorrow. Continue learning, embrace innovation and remain adaptable,” he said.
Kibisu also encouraged beneficiaries to explore government-backed youth funds and enterprise support programmes designed to help entrepreneurs access financing and grow their businesses.
Supporting economic transformation
Experts have consistently identified skills development as a critical tool for addressing youth unemployment.
The World Bank has noted that targeted skills programmes improve labour market outcomes, increase earnings and promote social inclusion, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The KISIP II Nyota Initiative is aligned with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places youth empowerment, job creation and support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at the centre of economic growth.
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As Kenya continues to urbanize, programmes targeting youth in informal settlements are increasingly being viewed as essential investments in the country’s future.
For the 540 graduates in Nakuru, the certificates they received symbolize more than academic achievement—they represent a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and a brighter future.
By Kimutai Langat
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