A total of 3000 youth in Kericho County will benefit from the County government’s full scholarships to pursue skill-based courses at technical, industrial, and vocational education and training institutions within the County.
Speaking to members of the Public during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Moi Gardens in Kericho town, the Kericho County Governor Dr Eric Mutai announced that it was all systems go for the roll-out of the program that will see thousands of youth benefit by acquiring skills that will eventually enable them to start their own businesses and secure opportunities in the job market.
Mutai revealed that a total of 100 youths will be selected from each of the 30 wards in all the six Sub-Counties of Kericho County to ensure equal distribution of the full scholarship opportunity to the young people.
“I’m urging the parents to enrol their children even those who did not perform well in KCSE exams, and even those who dropped out of Primary school, here is an opportunity for them and we will be educating them for free and award certificates to them after completion of their course work,” said Dr Mutai.
The governor assured the residents that it’s all systems go for the program as mapping had already been done with the help of the Principals from Technical Institutions urging the interested youth to check out an advertisement for the same in the next three weeks and apply in order to benefit from the full scholarship.
At the same time, the governor assured area residents of improved healthcare intimating that by next week all health facilities within the County will have medicine even as he promised that plans were at an advanced stage to establish a Sh68 million cancer centre at the Kericho county Referral hospital.
“We have donors who have given us the money to build a major cancer institute in Kericho and not again will our people in Kericho suffer because of the burden of cancer by traveling to hospitals in the neighboring counties since we will be able to handle the cancer cases here in our County,” assured the governor.
Mutai further revealed that plans were underway to introduce a guaranteed loan facility to the Kericho residents engaging in Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that will enable them to access loans at a low-interest rate of five percent from the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).
“We have negotiated and agreed to give hustlers a loan at a very low-interest rate meaning that you will be able to start and grow your hustles conveniently,” added Mutai
During his Mashujaa day address, the governor gave special mention to recognize and appreciate persons he considered heroes in the County of Kericho saying they had contributed and sacrificed extra-ordinarily to the wellbeing of the County.
“Kericho County just like other regions in our country prides itself in producing celebrated men and women who are worth mentioning including our home-grown legendary athletes Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich and Evans Kipkurui.
Kericho County Commissioner Mr. Kamau Karungo read the president’s speech after which he also gave special recognition to two heroes in Kericho including Kimalel Arap Too from Soin Sigowet Sub-County and Kipchekech Arap Riongi from Belgut.
The CC urged Kericho residents to continue observing peace and coexisting well with other communities as they demonstrated during and after the last general elections.
Meanwhile, the Kericho Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Stephen Orinde thanked the residents of Kericho for exhibiting a high degree of peace during the electioneering period and attributed the success to the clergy and the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) where they mounted an aggressive campaign for peace including roadshows.
The DCC noted that incidents of illicit brews, chang’aa, and lotto betting machines were on the rise in Ainamoi Sub-County adding that decisive and concerted efforts to crack down on the menace will be instituted.
Shujaa’s who also addressed the Mashujaa day celebrations included Mzee William Ketienya and Rev. Busienei who said he worked alongside the Mau-Mau where he got injured during the struggle for independence.
Among others present at the function included the Kericho Deputy Governor Eng. Fred Kirui, Kericho Members of County Assembly (MCAs), local leaders, and people from all walks of life.
By Kibe Mburu and Dominic Cheres
