The Tujiajiri Youth Empowerment Programme has kicked off with hundreds of youth undertaking various technical courses in a number of Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) in the county.
According to the County Director for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Mike Mosi, the Sh30 million scholarship programme, which is being funded by the County Government and the Kenya Commercial Bank KCB Foundation at Sh15 million each, has benefited at least 500 youth.
Mosi said the Tujiajiri scholarship programme will not only pay school fees for the beneficiaries but will also buy tool kits for the most successful students to enable them to start practising once they graduate.
Speaking in Iten, Iten Vocational Training Centre Manager, Mr. Mark Kilimo, whose institution received 100 slots, said all the learners reported for studies this term.
The VCT, with a current student population of 470, offers a wide range of artisan courses, including welding, motor vehicle technology, hairdressing, tailoring, and dressmaking, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), among others.
Kilimo said the trainees are examined by credible examination bodies such as the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) and the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and adding certificates from the two bodies can enable one to secure employment anywhere, even outside the country.
“The NITA and KNEC certificates are recognised by employment bureaus both locally and internationally. In fact, we have former students who have been able to secure jobs overseas,” Kilimo said.
Though a good number of the students graduating from polytechnics have been venturing into self-employment after acquiring skills, Kilimo said some of them have sought jobs outside Kenya.
Kilimo said Iten VCT has the capacity to equip the learners with the necessary skills required to start up their own businesses upon completion of the studies.
A Gender Officer in the programme, Ms. Purity Kiptoo, said three special students were earmarked to benefit from the scholarship and were expected to join Kapsabet School for the Deaf, but only one has reported.
Mr. John Maritim from the Directorate of Planning and Budgeting challenged Iten Polytechnic to commence a massive branding of the institution, saying learners at the centre had already demonstrated capacity.
“In fact, those learners in the garment industry should start designing clothes and selling them to county officials. This can be a starting point while departments in the county promote the products done by our students,” said Maritim.
By Alice Wanjiru
