Young people have been challenged to come up with innovation ideas which will assist in shaping their future lives.
The Information, Communication Technology and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS), Joe Mucheru said the government is committed to protect and nurture innovation ideas of young people for their prosperity.
The CS who was speaking on Friday during graduation ceremony of more than 10, 000 youth in Murang’a who trained on various short technical and artisan courses, noted that his ministry will offer intellectual property cover for the ideas developed by young people.
By coming up with innovation ideas, the CS said youth will have a chance to create employment opportunities and also help in improvement of technological know-how.
He stressed that the government is committed to uplift lives of young people across the country saying various funds have been allocate to support exploitation and development of innovation ideas.
Mucheru said in Murang’a, seven constituency innovation hubs have been established and urged youth to fully make use of them.
“The government has many plans which will help young people and what is needed is our youth to come out and use the innovation hubs in developing their ideas,” he added during the occasion held at Mumbi grounds.
He promised to work hand in hand with Murang’a county government to help the youth who graduated with various technical skills to get needed equipment and start incoming generating projects.
The CS further said through Ajira Programme, the ministry is partnering with various groups including higher learning institutions to promote online jobs among young people.
Online jobs, he noted will be actualized after youth get needed trainings to exploit ICT in doing research among other jobs which pay handsomely.
“In the innovation hubs, there are computers and young people can use them to do online jobs, a sector which has employed many people,” said Mucheru.
The ministry, he further added is working with the judiciary to digitize its records, an activity which will involve many other people in inputting the needed data.
“Already 200 computers have been procured to support the judiciary programme on digitizing its records and this work will benefit many young people,” he added.
Speaking during same occasion, the Murang’a Governor, Mwangi wa Iria said his government needs support from the ministry of ICT and youth affairs to promote welfare of young people.
Mwangi observed that the county has been sponsoring training of youth in various technical and artisan courses, an initiative which has seen many young people employ themselves.
“In this programme dubbed Ufundi kwa Vijana more than 40, 000 young people have benefited. What we are currently doing is to seek financial support so as to provide equipment to those who have graduated to start their income generating programme.
The county government has established a Sacco for those who have gone through the programme to help in acquiring tools of work.
The devolved unit has further injected Sh. 200 million in the Sacco which will operate as revolving fund for the trained artisans and technicians.
By Bernard Munyao
