Three hundred youths in the county received Sh6 million in grants during the first phase of the Kenya Youth Empowerment and Opportunities Programme (KYEOP) to set up businesses.
The County Director of Youth Affairs John Odede said another 900 youths were enrolled into various short technical courses including electrical installation, catering, hair and beauty therapy, ICT, plumbing among other practical trades.
Odede stated that each entrepreneur was given Sh20,000 to either start-up or grow their businesses in April-May this year.
The Director added that in the second phase conducted in July-August 1,500 youths have been selected to benefit from short technical courses while 500 would be offered Sh20, 000 grant each for doing business.
He said the training for the second batch is set for next week but the entrepreneurial support beneficiaries are not yet known because this time round there was the taking of Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test.
“This programme will go a long way in producing the artisans and technicians that will steer the country into the middle income status by the year 2030,” he asserted.
The Officer added the programme is funded by the World Bank to the tune of Sh15 billion and runs for five years and intends to benefit 280,000 youths.
By Sammy Mwibanda
