The government is committed to empower the youth and harness their potential for realization of sustainable development through ‘Vijana Kazini’.
Vijana Kazini, is a new initiative which helps the government and corporates get young people who miss out on job opportunities into work or do businesses giving a particular focus on those young people termed ‘opportunity youth’, who are at the fringes of their communities.
Speaking today during the second ‘Vijana Kazini’ round table at The Kenya School of Government, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Maureen Mbaka said the youth were the strength, wealth and drivers of innovation in Kenya.
She said that deliberate and systematic efforts were necessary to appropriately equip and empower the youth to attain and realize their full potential thus attaining development objectives set out in Kenya Vision 2030.
The CAS added that reaching out to and working with these “Opportunity Youth” is very vital to the stability and prosperity of Kenya with the 2022 election fast approaching, offering support to these young people in positive ways was paramount.
Mbaka encouraged the youth to register as voters so that their voices could be heard and they participate in electing formidable leaders who would bring positive change.
“With the IEBC’s second phase of voter registration currently underway, I would like to encourage the youth, who form the largest constituency in Kenya, to register as voters and actively influence the outcome of the coming general election,” said Mbaka adding that the Ministry’s mission is to facilitate universal access to ICT infrastructure and services and empower youth for national development.
Mbaka urged the youth to be innovative and make use of the Huduma Whitebox – a one-stop shop for anyone who wants to present, share or sell their idea, innovation, invention or solution.
The Deputy British High Commissioner Josephine Gauld said they were committed to supporting young people to find livelihood opportunities and prosper in their personal and professional lives.
“We collectively understand that there are many challenges and obstacles to identifying, reaching and engaging with these young people,” she said, adding that Vijana Kazini was meant to offer them the space to find synergies in their approaches.
She assured that the United Kingdom (UK) would continue collaborating with the National and County governments and other partners to identify challenges faced by these young creative people.
“We will work to connect them with programmes, initiatives and opportunities that can support their continued development and income-generating potential,” said the Deputy British High Commissioner.
According to statistics gathered by the Global Opportunity Youth Network, Mombasa, approximately 44 per cent of young people aged 15 to 34 are unemployed in Mombasa, while an additional 22 per cent claimed inconsistent livelihoods through informal and/ or temporary employment.
The meeting that was organized by Vijana Kazini Convening partners brought together participants and panelists from across the private sector, Kenyan Government, donors and development partners.
By Catherine Muindi
