The Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) has disbursed Sh31.6 million to 1,580 beneficiaries in Kakamega County as business support grants in the past one year.
The County Youth Officer (CYO) Gareth Nkichabe said another batch of 2, 143 young people have been trained and placed under internship in various trades including plumbing, electrical installation, catering and motor vehicle mechanics over the same period.
Nkichabe stated that KYEOP which is sponsored by the World Bank at a cost of Sh15 billion from the year 2017-2022, gives each business grant beneficiary after undergoing a three-day induction is given a total of Sh 40, 000 in batches of Sh 20, 000.
On the other hand, the trainees undergo a five-month course after which they are offered internship and paid a stipend of Sh300 per day.
The CYO said the county started benefiting when the project had reached cycle four and in cycle five, which is ongoing, 1,700 youth have been selected for training and internship while 2, 143 are going to receive business support grants.
She pointed out that The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) handles the entrepreneurs while those undertaking training and internship are under the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).
By Sammy Mwibanda
