Gatanga Member of Parliament (MP), Edward Muriu, has resolved to ensure local youths are employed in the forthcoming constituency projects as a way of empowering them.
Muriu, speaking at Kirathani grounds during Ithanga ward tournament finals, asked youths with technical skills to register at the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) office to benefit from local projects implemented through the fund.
“We want those who are skilled welders, painters, masons, and tile layers to register in our NG-CDF office so we can plan on how to implement the projects,” the MP said.
He explained that the labor-based model of implementing projects will reduce the cost of projects by 40 percent as it does away with contractors by having locals provide construction materials and labour, thus ensuring residents get jobs and support their families.
“The NG-CDF team has over Sh80 million set aside for upgrading local schools and those projects will not be offered to contractors from other areas, which will boost the local economy as it will ensure the funds allocated for projects circulate locally,” he said.
“If a school has an on-going project, the technical skills will be offered by local youths and the construction materials sourced from local shops,” he added.
The MP noted that the development model has succeeded in Kiharu constituency, where he was part of a group of 15 MPs who visited Nyakihai primary school last week for a peer-to-peer learning session.
On sports, Muriu said the tournaments will culminate at the constituency level and he announced plans to consolidate a constituency football team dubbed Gatanga United that will represent the constituency in other competitions.
“From next year, we will consolidate the best local footballers who will be identified through the ward tournaments,” he said.
The legislator said that more sports will also be incorporated and a tournament for juniors started to groom sports talents in young boys and girls.
However, he noted that his NG-CDF’s annual budget for sports is only about Sh2.7 million and he would therefore seek partners who will help give more awards to participants as a way of motivating them.
By Purity Mugo and Bernard Munyao
