The county government of Garissa has put up 30 ICT centers across the region during the past three years.
Outgoing CEC for education, vocational training, ICT and Public Service Habiba Nasib said the centers (one for each of the 30 wards) are complete.
Habiba said the centres are furnished and equipped awaiting to be commissioned by Governor Ali Korane soon.
Speaking when she handed over the docket to incoming CEC Ahmednadir Omar formerly of health, Habiba said that heightened campaign drive to enroll youth in vocational training institutions had borne fruits.
She said in the past three years over 2,000 youth had acquired various technical training skills and given starter-up kits to initiate business for self-reliance.
On Early Childhood Development (ECD), Habiba said that 10 new ECD schools have been constructed to cater for the growing number of children seeking enrollment adding the county government has continued to support school feeding program for the past 3 years to encourage enrolment in ECD centers.
“We have also constructed a model ECD center at Bulla College, an administration block and four lecture halls at Mikono technical college, all aimed at empowering our youth and addressing the problem of unemployment among them,” she said.
The CEC commended the enhanced partnership with Unicef, WFP, Kenya Red Cross and Agha Khan foundation in supporting both ECD schools and vocational training centers. She also acknowledged the support from Kenya Commercial Bank and Tullow Oil who sponsored 70 youth from the county to various institutions in Nairobi for advanced technical training courses. She added that the International Labour Organization also sponsored 21 youth from the County to achieve technical training courses at the East African Institute in Nairobi three years ago.
The CEC who moves to Lands, Housing and Urban services urged her successor to ensure the ECD bill and ECD policy that were at an advanced stage are passed into law. The ECD bill is meant to address the rights of ECD children, establish and register ECD centers including the existing ones and management of ECD schools.
On his part, Omar said he will ensure that quality services, integrity and innovation creativity are adhered to during his tenure.
The handing over was witnessed by chief officer for ICT, E-Governance and Library services Rashid Farah, Chief officer for Public service and Labour relations Nimo Mohamed Abdi and Director for ECD Ahmed Bashir.
by Jacob Songok
