At least 150 morans underwent training on various trades to improve their prospects in the job market initiated by Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT).
The initiative dubbed Ujuzi Manyattani programme sponsored 12 tailor-made courses that have been developed targeting pastoral communities with the least access to formal education.
Since its inception in 2019, at least 209 morans have graduated from the programme with courses ranging from mobile phone repairs, catering, hairdressing, tailoring, motorbike repair and masonry with 5,000 youth-targeted to graduate by 2025 with 350 mobile trainers expected to be enrolled. Youths from the pastoral communities in Isiolo, Samburu, Laikipia and Baringo counties are the main targets of the programme.
The event was graced by Dr. Margaret Mwakima, PS for TVET who was the chief guest, and Dr. Kevit Desai, PS State department for East African Community (EAC) together with other high ranking officials from both the national and county governments and also representatives from the private sector.
Florence Olchuragi, from Samburu County who did a course in mobile phone repair in Kalama Conservancy decided to take a chance after realizing she had nothing else to acquire in order to sustain her life.
The course which took her three months was free of charge and already she has since been able to repair more than 50 phones ranging from phone screens, charging systems, and more.
Her wish is to be a supplier of phone accessories in the region which experiences scarcity of such commodities.
Gabriel Regan Rabaltelic, from Oltungai Conservancy, Samburu County who is a reformed bandit undertook a course in motorbike repair for six months has built a two-room house, owns a motorbike and a repair shop is eventually able to fend for his family and has since shunned his former past and integrate into a good citizen all because of the program.
The national government has invested in 11 technical training colleges, which are fully equipped with relevant required types of equipment that are need-based depending on where they are situated to improve on Infrastructure which has been the main challenge especially in the nomadic communities.
“The government undertook this initiative after Statistics showed that more than 600,000 students attained their form four certificate last year with over 70 per cent ending up in vocational training institutes,” revealed Dr. Mwakima.
This year alone, 26 technical training institutes are being constructed and fully equipped in partnership with the private sector and development partners such as NRT.
The ministry will be recruiting over 3000 trainers through the Public Service Commission in order to facilitate the training in the institutions.
County governments will each receive Sh10million to facilitate rehabilitation, improvement of standards, and quality assurance for the TVETs.
The ultimate purpose of the Ujuzi Manyattani programme is to help individuals improve their livelihoods by facilitating income and eradicate poverty.
Criminal activities such as cattle rustling, banditry, and general insecurity will be curbed due to the morans being engaged in their personal jobs.
The graduates were later gifted with starter packs to enable them to kick start their newly gained careers according to the specific courses they undertook.
By Parklea Ivor
