Youths living in various slums around Meru town are set to benefit with skills from a newly launched program by the county government, aimed at improving the livelihood of jobless youth in the informal settlements.
The program dubbed “Improved livelihood Opportunities and Accessibility for Underserved Urban Communities” was launched by Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and it targets to train 1,250 youths living in slums around Majengo, Mjini, Gitimbine and Kaaga.
The project will cost Sh316 million and the various youths will be trained on Do-Nou technology, which will be used to upgrade and tarmac 24 roads to connect the Eastern and Western Bypasses in Meru town.
Speaking during the launch, Kiraitu thanked the partnership between the national government, the county government and the World Bank for the continued support towards Meru County for better service delivery to the people.
“I want to hail the friendship my government has had with the national government because without them the World Bank cannot operate in Kenya hence no loans,” he said.
The newly launched project is funded by the government of Japan through the World Bank and it will see an upgrade of 26 kilometers of various roads within Meru town.
According to Kiraitu, the upgrade will also spur economic growth within the region and most importantly reduce traffic jams across Meru town especially in Gitimbine area.
“I am happy to report that through the friendship between the national and county government, a new road is being built from Gikumene to Gitoro, which will ease traffic along Gitimbine area,” said the governor.
On opening various opportunities and unlocking economic growth, the governor said soon a construction of a 72 kilometers road from Isiolo to Modogashe will start, and once completed that particular road will open the Northern Grazing zone for both the Meru and the north eastern people.
“A few weeks from now, the world bank will begin construction of a 72 kilometers tarmacked road from Isiolo through Gashio and Modogashe, opening a new frontier for the northern grazing zone,” said Kiraitu.
By Erick Otieno and Makaa Margret
