Young people have been challenged to take advantage of various development programmes the government has initiated to facilitate them make their livelihoods.
The Murang’a South Youth Development Officer, Franklin Mutunga has lamented that only a few youth have shown interest in securing funds the government has set to support young people.
He pointed out that there are several funds including Youth Enterprise and Uwezo Funds, which are meant to empower young people start income generating projects.
Mutunga was speaking on Saturday at Mithi area of Murang’a South when 89 young people graduated with a computer literacy certificate after getting sponsorship from a local resident, Antony Chege.
He added that the government recently launched the Ajira digital programme which aims to support young people embrace online jobs.
“Those who have graduated with computer literacy course can embrace online jobs. Let them visit youth empowerment centres where they will be directed on how to go about the online jobs,” added Mutunga.
Online jobs, the officer said, are many and well paying, adding what one needs is access to a computer to work on the jobs.
He further challenged the young people to access government procurement opportunities, saying what is needed is to have the youth form groups to secure tenders from government offices and institutions.
The ICT skills sponsor Chege on his part said he started training form four leavers on computer programmes since 2015 to ensure that as they proceed with their education, they are computer literate.
He observed that he has been sourcing for well-wishers to support the programme which so far has trained more than 3, 000 young people in computer literacy.
“Since we started, the programme proved to be of great benefit to young people since some have secured employment as clerks, cashiers among other jobs,” noted Chege.
The programme, which is offered free, Chege observed, has helped to instill good character among the beneficiaries as the training also involves entrepreneurial and life skills.
“I tailored the programme after realizing that leaving young people idle will expose them to various social evils like abuse of alcohol and drugs and also engaging in criminal activities,” added Chege.
The programme benefits youth from Murang’a South Sub County and takes about three months, with Chege, saying they train two times in a year.
Chege said with the looming political campaigns, some leaders are targeting to recruit young people to use them for advancing their political careers and cautioned the youth against being exploited.
“Leaders need to come up with programmes which will improve young people’s livelihoods but not to misuse them in engaging in dirty politics which has no benefit to them,” posed Chege.
By Bernard Munyao
