Over 50 youth groups in Nyandarua have benefitted with empowerment equipment, courtesy of the County government through the Department of Youth, Sports, Gender and Social Services.
According to Governor Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha, the county administration has invested in a youth empowerment programme which has been supporting young people with equipment and basic training to acquire skills that enable them to become self-employed.
Speaking during distribution of the equipment in Ol Kalou, the Governor urged the youth to prudently utilize the equipment, saying it will be unfortunate if they abandon or sell the equipment.
Most of the equipment donated was value addition related equipment including yoghurt making machines, fuel pumps, snacks baking equipment among others.
Others were talent related equipment including studio production machines, salon and beauty equipment and motorbikes.
The Governor also said the government has partnered with a private developer to construct an ICT tower at Ol Kalou Arboretum.
He noted that this was part of a change manifesto with an agenda to empower local people economically.
He said a youth policy is in place to ensure youth interests are addressed, but lamented about low application of tenders and entrepreneurship by the youth.
He said with the opportunities and skills, the youth will engage in community benefitting programs.
Badilisha also announced that the dormant Oreliudu market will be converted to a tents making centre, a youth programme that also received the tent making equipment.
Already, over 50 youth representatives have been trained on value addition, a similar number trained in film making.
The entrepreneurship programs are going hand in hand with talent search and promotion in all sectors.
However, the county boss castigated some politicians determined to engage in destructive politics, sending Nyandarua back to yesteryears where supremacy battles dominated the county frustrating development agenda.
“We have older people in Nyandarua taking advantage of the Gen-Z organised movement, they are all over social media masquerading as Gen-Z, we won’t allow the selfish politicians to manipulate the youth, they are same people who read evil in every development project,” said Governor Badilisha.
By Antony Mwangi
