Youth in Laikipia have been urged to take advantage of stimulus funds from the County to revitalize their businesses aimed at stirring economic growth in the region.
Laikipia Deputy Governor, Rueben Kamuri, speaking during the official opening of Youth week in Nanyuki, said that youth had a lot of talents that needed to be tapped for the benefit of the county.
“We are happy because of youth week, it offers a good opportunity for us to interact and highlight challenges we face. We have again been able to see the expertise and talents that our youth have, including on climate change,” said the Deputy Governor.
He noted that, the Youth Day that is normally commemorated annually on August 12, sought to highlight challenges that youth go through in their daily lives and how the government could address them.
“As County Government, I know there are funds that our youth can use. There are good opportunities and we urge youth to come on board and take advantage of those opportunities to better their lives,” urged Kamuri.
According to the United Nations, this year’s theme is Green skills for youth, towards a sustainable world that targets to create awareness on environmental sustainability and how to address global climate crises for a sustainable development goal.
The Deputy Governor said that the county was ready to support youth-led initiatives that are geared towards environmental sustainability.
Photos by Muturi Mwangi/KNA
Drawing Dreams Initiative, a youth-led community based organization (CBO) Director Grace Wanene said that the exhibitions offered an opportunity for youth to showcase their innovation to the world since the majority of young people lacked guidance.
“We realised youth lacked a chance to show the world their talents in their places of work and also in the creative industry. The exhibitions offer an opportunity for them to also learn from others,” said Wanene.
She affirmed that youth had potential and what was needed is to mentor them and offer support in their skills and talents.
Reuben Mwangi, one of the exhibitors at Cider Mall in Nanyuki, that saw various businesses showcase their products said that he collects used glass bottles to make jewels storage tins among other uses, a venture that had supported him for three years.
He noted that, through his business, he is able to keep the environment tidy and at the same time urged youth to be innovative.
Light for the world officer Lucy Murage lamented that youth with disabilities were trained on business but lacked opportunities.
Light for the world is an organization geared towards supporting PWDs engaged in business in Kenya.
She said the exhibition offered an opportunity for youth with disabilities to showcase their talents and appealed to the various institutions in the country to consider PWDs when there are job openings.
By Muturi Mwangi
