- Jane Mugambi reports that KiriMarket will connect young people with customers, jobs and business opportunities.
- The digital platform brings together service providers, traders, job seekers and transport-sector operators in Kirinyaga.
- County leaders say technology, entrepreneurship and value addition could help address persistent youth unemployment challenges.
A digital marketplace has been launched in Kirinyaga to connect young people with employment and business opportunities.
The platform, dubbed KiriMarket, was launched in Kagio by the Kirinyaga Young Professionals Forum to harness technology and create new economic opportunities for young people in the county.
Speaking to the media after the launch, Kirinyaga Young Professionals Forum Chairman Andrew Murigu said the initiative was conceived after the group realised that many young people were already spending significant time on digital platforms but were not using them effectively to earn a living.
“Many young people in Kirinyaga are conversant with technology, and the world is moving towards digital platforms. We therefore saw an opportunity to create a platform where young people can easily connect with customers and access opportunities,” Murigu said.
He said KiriMarket would allow young people to advertise their skills and services directly to potential customers, helping them increase their income and build sustainable livelihoods.
“Instead of a young person waiting at home for someone to give them a job, they can use this platform to market their skills and connect directly with people looking for their services,” he said.
Murigu said the initiative was also aimed at transforming how young people use social media and technology, arguing that digital platforms could be powerful tools for economic empowerment if used constructively.
“You will find many youths on social media every day. We want to encourage them to use technology constructively, not only for entertainment, but also as a tool to earn a living,” he said.
Platform targets service providers and job seekers
Kirinyaga Young Professionals Forum Secretary-General Nicholas Bundi said the application would bring together different categories of users, including job seekers, service providers, traders and people in the transport sector.
He said users would be able to access services such as plumbing, transport and other skilled services, while service providers would have an opportunity to find customers and employment.
“KiriMarket is bringing service providers, job seekers, traders and the transport sector onto one platform. Our goal is to make it easier for people to find services and, at the same time, create opportunities for young people to earn an income,” Bundi said.
Kirinyaga County Executive Committee Member for Trade Calbert Njeru welcomed the initiative, saying the county government was committed to supporting young people involved in small businesses.
Njeru said the county government would soon roll out a fund allocated in the county budget to support young people engaged in small-scale businesses.
“The county government is very supportive of young people who are creating businesses and looking for ways to earn a living. We have a fund in the budget that will soon be rolled out to support young people doing small businesses,” Njeru said.
He urged young people to embrace KiriMarket and other digital platforms that can connect them with customers, employers and business opportunities.
Njeru also commended the young professionals for coming up with the initiative, saying it could help keep young people economically engaged and reduce their vulnerability to drug and alcohol abuse.
“When young people have something productive to do and an opportunity to earn an income, they are less likely to fall into drugs and alcoholism. This is the kind of initiative we need to support,” he said.
Leaders call for skills aligned to jobs
Mwea MP Mary Maingi said embracing technology and creating employment opportunities was critical in addressing the challenges facing young people in Kirinyaga.
Maingi, however, warned that there was a growing mismatch between the skills young people acquire through education and the demands of the job market.
“There is a mismatch between what we are training our young people to do and what the market requires. We must address this gap if we want our young people to find meaningful employment,” Maingi said.
She called for greater investment in value addition, particularly in agriculture, saying Kirinyaga’s agricultural potential could create thousands of jobs if properly exploited.
“Value addition must be encouraged in Kirinyaga because that is where we can unlock the potential that is still missing. We are an agricultural county, and if we add value to our agricultural products, we can create many jobs for our young people,” she said.
Maingi also called on the county government to ensure the planned aggregation centre in Sagana becomes operational, saying it could provide employment opportunities while creating markets for farmers.
She further urged residents to consider the development record and ideas of political leaders when choosing their representatives.
“As the people of Kirinyaga go to vote, they should elect leaders with progressive minds. We need leaders who can unlock the potential of our young people and create an environment where jobs and businesses can thrive,” Maingi said.
The launch of KiriMarket comes amid growing calls for innovative approaches to tackling youth unemployment, with stakeholders increasingly looking towards technology, entrepreneurship and value addition as alternative pathways to employment.
The young professionals said they would continue improving the platform and encouraging more service providers, businesses and job seekers to join it.
By Jane Mugambi
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