Nandi County youths drawn from Aldai, Tinderet and Nandi Hills Sub Counties have been urged to venture into farming as a source of income in a bid to deal with the unemployment crisis among the youth in the country.
Speaking during an inception meeting on Early Warning Early Response (ECCES) II project spearheaded by USAID through the Underit Youth Group (UYG) in Nandi, Nichollus Kibett, a mentor who owns a poultry project in his farm advised the youth to earn a living from what is available.
Kibet noted that farming is the best business that one could start with as minimum capital as possible and therefore a stepping stone for the youth to self-employment.
“When I ventured into poultry farming, I started with only three hens. As I speak, I own 1000 hens in my farm and I aim to reach 10,000 hens,” pointed Kibett.
In addition to poultry farming, Kibett said that he owns 60 goats and 10 dairy cows noting that there is a continuity in farming once a person decides to undertake farming.
“Do not underrate farming. If you want to be rich, do not wait for white collar jobs,” he advised.
On his part, Aldai Technical instructor Elkana Yego encouraged the youth to join Technical Training colleges to enable them be equipped with skills that could help them create self-employment opportunities.
He advised the youth to work around the clock as a way of keeping themselves occupied noting that cases of depression among the youths are alarming and that it has greatly contributed to the increased number of youths consuming illegal drugs.
“It is my pleasure to see youths joining Technical Institutes to be equipped with various skills. You don’t have to go to university to succeed. Success is working hard with what you have,” he pointed.
UnderitYouth Group coordinator Jacob Sanga sensitised the youths on how to harness early warning technologies and mechanisms that contribute to prevention of conflict in their families, communities, neighbours and even the County at large noting that the ECCES programme has a component to sensitize the public on peace and coexistence especially within and among the communities along the borders of Nandi, Kisumu and Vihiga Counties.
“When there is peace there is progress. As youths, be ambassadors of peace in your communities,” said Sanga.
By Ruth Mainye
