By Kipilat Kapusia
For decades, West Pokot County has lacked professionals in various fields like Teaching, Medicine, Engineering, law, Aviation, Surgery, architecture and others hindering service delivery and development in the region.
The County is also faced with challenges of Female genital Mutilation [FGM] early forced marriages and school drop outs.
The County women representative, Rael Kasiwai, has stepped up to break the barriers by initiating a mentorship program on career choice targeting students in high schools, colleges and universities.
She noted the program dubbed “breaking the barriers” will connect learners with mentors who they can look up to as role models in their education.
“Most students choose subjects with little or no career choice information guided by family preference, teacher driven, peer influence, individual inclinations or media influence. This has resulted in broken careers and unrealized. Education is the basic tool that everyone should have. Learners need to discover their potential for them to grow socially and economically,” she said.
The program which will be undertaken in all the four sub counties in the County is seeking to train and empower future leaders.
“We shall be committed to building an effective game plan for our youth with a career gap or deciding to take one to maximize their chances of pursuing their dream careers,” said Mrs Kasiwai.
She explained that the program will mould all rounded youth and future leaders capable of transforming the society.
“By adopting such an impactful initiative, the program will breed future leaders and professionals through mentorship. We are keen on ensuring transformative and competency based skills and such initiatives are bound to change the lives of the students once they complete school later on,” she said.
Speaking on Sunday during the launch of the program at Totum Secondary where professionals from various universities, colleges and professional bodies engaged with more than 2000 students from secondary schools in the County, the County MP pointed out that lots of energy and resources is spent on transition leading to dead and unfulfilled careers.
“The future of our County lies in education and we need our young people to wisely choose their career to spur development in the region,” she reiterated.
She urged the youths to preach the gospel of quality education.
“Education is the equalizer where background does not matter. These courses are offered in all universities across the Country and they require some good points for one quality,” she said.
She also called on youths in the area to join technical colleges.
“Many students don’t know the vital role of Technical and vocational education and training [TVETS] offer in bridging the gap created to the job opportunities. The work requires a lot of technical skills. I thank teachers for their sacrifice and silent hard work as they go through a lot facing the terrain, hardship and security threat, attending our children and supporting the education system,” she said.
She said that she will make sure the mindset and attitude of residents is changed.
“You study seriously, hard work and discipline and that will lead you to success .You need discipline, hard work and determination,” said Mrs Kasiwai.
Mnagei ward member of County assembly Richard Todosia noted that the program was a noble initiative that its future will result in a higher level of education.
“It will have to reduce early pregnancies and promote girl child education in the region. We need high transition from high school to colleges and universities,” he said
A parent Rajab Chombus said that the program will have to avert unrest in schools.
“It will calm down strikes. Many after school don’t know what to choose. We need to improve infrastructure,” he said.
Totum Secondary school Principal Julius Natoka said that many learners in schools have been misusing drugs, absenteeism, early pregnancies, forced marriages and joining boda boda and the program will address the challenges.
