At least 1, 135 youths and young adults have benefited with short artisan courses fully sponsored by Kiharu National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
The beneficiaries who graduated on Thursday at Ihura stadium in Murang’a were awarded certificates after successfully completing a four-month training in colleges operating within the constituency.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has said the graduands were the first bunch of those who were selected to undertake the training under Kiharu Fanikisha Programme.
The programme that was launched in December 2024, Ndindi said was tailor made to offer training on various artisan courses to unemployed youths and young adults who reside in the constituency.
“We established this programme to ensure our young people have skills in various courses. The graduates have been awarded certificates to help them search for employment as others initiate income generating projects,” stated Ndindi.
The beneficiaries were sponsored to train on hospitality, cosmetology and driving courses in various local colleges and driving schools operating within Kiharu where the tuition fee was fully paid by the NG-CDF.
“Those who trained in driving have been issued with smartcard driving licenses and fortunately some have already secured employment,” he added.
To make the programme affordable, Ndindi stated that the trainees were guided to undertake the courses in institutes which are closer to their homes.
The legislator called upon the beneficiaries to embrace self-employment saying this will give them opportunities to nurture their ambitions and even enable them to employ other young people.
“I want to encourage those who have graduated today to consider self-employment, which is like a blank check, your skills and determination dictate how much you earn every month and your possibilities for growth are limitless,” said Ndindi.
In supporting education in Kiharu, the legislator observed that the local NG-CDF has disbursed funds to facilitate construction of laboratories in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
In phase one of the project, eight schools have already received each Sh. 3.5 million to construct laboratories.
“Construction of the laboratories will commence immediately since funds have been deposited in the counts of the respective project management committees.
Some of the schools slated to benefit in phase one of the laboratory programme include Gakurwe,Kimathi, Karingu, Kambirwa, Maragi and Githagara primary schools among others.
The MP further added to deepen studies in day secondary schools within the constituency, revision books worth Sh10 million are slated to be distributed in the schools.
“Our aim is to improve education standards in Kiharu by providing necessary infrastructure and equipment needed to facilitate effective teaching,” he added.
Meanwhile the MP has opposed the proposal to withdraw NG-CDF saying the kitty has enabled legislators to serve Kenyans by addressing their needs in ways that were previously impossible.
“There are things our predecessors could not do that we are now able to do as members of parliament.
“When we are making judgements around an issue like NG-CDF it is good that as we consider the legalese around it, we also consider the impact,” remarked Ndindi.
He noted that the leaders should manage the funds appropriately stating that they bring services such as bursaries closer to people.
Ndindi averred that in Kiharu he has been able to reduce the school fees paid by day secondary school students to Sh1000 per term and he has also renovated primary school classrooms across the constituency among other projects using NG-CDF.
He noted that the county governments are doing their role of overseeing the devolved functions while NGCDF serves national government functions like education and infrastructure therefore the fund cannot be placed under county governments.
On loans, the MP called upon the government to evaluate its borrowing and accumulation of loans terming it as a big threat to the economy.
“I believe there are better ways to manage public resources without burdening Kenyans with huge debts,” he said.
He called upon the government to use existing assets to raise resources instead of only relying on debt saying the burden will be borne by future generations.
By Bernard Munyao and Purity Mugo
