Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi has pledged to secure employment opportunities for more than 250, 000 jobless youth in the county in order to empower themselves economically.
Cheboi observed that various learning institutions are producing a large number of graduates who end up not getting jobs and in turn impact negatively to the economy.
Speaking in Kabarnet town during official opening of the third county assembly on Tuesday, the governor also stated that his administration will strategise on some innovative ways to empower the youth within the county and beyond.
“We are going to create a department that will be responsible for securing employment opportunities of our young people and see to it that we get at least 50,000 jobs per year. We will explore all possible job opportunities in both state and private sectors within the county and in other parts of Kenya and even abroad,” he said.
The county boss noted that he will involve experts from various fields to check if the youth in the county have some rare skills that are sought-after in the job market.
He stated that the promise on job creation was part of his campaign manifesto and will be banking on support from the legislative wing of the county government and friends to make it successful.
“We intend to work with partners to equip and roll out free wifi in all our youth empowerment centres in all the seven sub-county headquarters so that we are able to give them the opportunity to take up offshore business opportunities,” the Governor said.
Cheboi who was ushered in by County Assembly Speaker Vincent Kemboi said apart from increasing the bursary kitty, the county administration will offer scholarships to needy bright and talented youth to enable them pursue skills that will guarantee them employment.
He said that although the resource envelope the county was getting is very small, they shall be knocking on all doors to see to it that the youth are supported because they are the ones who contribute in breaking the poverty cycles within communities.
Some of the key areas governor Cheboi highlighted in his inaugural speech are his strategies to boost water sector, health care, irrigated farming, apiculture and rampant insecurity in the region.
Speaker Kemboi in his remarks acknowledged the critical role the house will play for the next five years in setting the county’s development agenda. He assured the governor of their overwhelming support in order for the county to move forward and succeed in solving the socio-economic challenges facing residents.
Among guests who attended the event was County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa and members of clergy led by African Inland Church area council Bishop William Kutut and FGCK Bishop emeritus Daniel Chemon.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
