At least 2000 youths in Nakuru are set to benefit from a youth empowerment programme courtesy of the County Government and three European-based international development agencies.
The county authorities signed the deal with the foreign agencies to promote youth employment through skills and enterprise development by accelerating growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and wealth creation in the County.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism, and Cooperatives, Mr. Stephen Muiruri, said the skills development and job creation initiative, which is targeting youths and women, also seeks to catalyse growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and wealth creation by providing youth with technical skills and training opportunities as well as up-skilling and helping micro-entrepreneurs move their businesses from the informal to the formal sector.
He said the programme, which will be implemented across all the 11 sub-counties, is a partnership between the County Government, the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV Kenya), the Slovak Agency for International Development Corporation (Slovak Aid), and the German Agency for International Corporation (GIZ).
The CECM disclosed that the programme will offer training, facilitate access to markets and finance, catalyse supply chain linkages, create digital solutions, enhance compliance to standards, and enable streamlined market access.
Through targeted interventions such as capacity building, technical assistance, and customised financial products, Mr. Muiruri explained that the initiative will also equip entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern business environment successfully.
“The programme is an important step towards inclusive trade, economic empowerment, and sustainable job creation for women and youth in the MSME sector within Nakuru County,” added the CECM.
While noting that the collaborative effort will better position the MSME sector as a pathway for economic growth, food security, and poverty alleviation in Nakuru, Mr. Muiruri stated that the county will deliberately offer practical skills and entrepreneurship training mentorship through partnerships with various industry titans as well as extending start-up capital to make the initiative a success.
While acknowledging that the initiative was aligned to the recently launched Enterprise Funds that economically empower small-scale entrepreneurs, Muiruri said in the wake of unprecedented challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have found themselves at the forefront of economic resilience and recovery.
“MSMEs represent the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contribute 34 per cent to GDP, and make up 75 per cent of formal establishments in Kenya, creating about 30 per cent of jobs annually. This initiative emerges as a strategic lifeline, propelling enterprises forward and unlocking the county’s untapped potential,” explained the CECM.
GIZ representative, Luis Bosch said the collaboration will foster an enabling environment to stimulate inclusive and equitable economic growth of the business startups in Nakuru County.
He stated that the initiative can catalyse dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for the youth, foster intra-county trade, and contribute to economic growth and poverty alleviation.
Suzana Wisconsina, from Slovak Aid, said the programme will help in proactively designing targeted instruments to integrate young persons in all aspects of the economic transformation.
She added that Slovak Aid, will factor in technical perspectives as well as curricular exchange initiatives as a way to develop international understanding between youth entrepreneurs and their peers from different countries to learn about each other’s culture and way of doing business.
Ms. Wisconsina indicated that by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and equipping individuals with the skills to thrive in a competitive market, the initiative lays the groundwork for long-term economic resilience and prosperity.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, there are over 7.4 million MSMEs employing approximately 14.9 million individuals, contributing approximately 40 per cent of the GDP.
By Esther Mwangi
