Governor Kihika signs an MoU for Youth training, as she commissions a Youth Empowerment Center

Written by James Munyua and Alumera Mukabi

Nakuru Governor H.E Susan Kihika has today signed an MOU with Centum Investment Company PLC. This collaboration aims to provide comprehensive training and create job opportunities for the youth and residents of Nakuru County.

The training and job opportunities will cover a wide range of areas that are prioritized in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), aligned with the County Annual Development Plan and budgets, Nakuru County Fiscal Strategy Papers, and the National Government’s priorities.

The program will benefit various individuals, including unemployed youth, public sector staff, business owners, employees, and post-secondary students.

The MOU was signed at the Menengai Social hall grounds where the Governor also commissioned a Youth Empowerment Center at the Bondeni social hall in Nakuru East Sub-county.

This center features a Textile Hub, Ajiry Digital Hub, and a state-of-the-art recording studio where Nakuru residents can record music and podcasts.

More than twenty youths who graduated today have already benefited from the Ajiry Digital Hub Program, which provides free access to digital skills training and job opportunities for young Kenyans.

While commissioning the center Governor Kihika said she will implement all the promises she made during the campaigns. She further noted that the county government of Nakuru is committed to offering solutions to youth unemployment in the county.

“This center will offer training to the youth where each cohort of 50 students will undergo an intensive 6 months of training. The skills acquired during that period will enable them to be linked to opportunities,” she said.

“I also urge all the departments to work in the mainstreaming of youth issues in the county and report what they have done as regards that. Such issues include having access to the government procurement opportunities among others,” said the Governor.

The Governor further noted that such innovations should be replicated in each sub-county. This will make sure that more young people are able to gain skills that will be of benefit to them.

Facilities such as the textile hub, according to the Governor, can be used on a large scale to make uniforms for ECDE centers across the county, uniforms for the county enforcement officers, and many other items for the health care facilities.

Governor Kihika also said a recording studio has been one of her dream projects for the youth some of whom have constantly asked for help to record music. She implored the youth to use the studios to earn a living by recording music and podcasts.

The center will greatly benefit the youth of Bondeni where cases of criminal activities have been recorded. The lack of opportunities for the youth in the area has been mentioned as a major factor contributing to the rise of criminal acts.

The Commissioning of the Youth Empowerment Centers coincided with the International Youth Day where the Governor said issues of the youth should be addressed every day as they form the biggest part of the population.

The Governor was accompanied by Deputy Governor David Kones, Ag. County Secretary Dr. Samuel Mwaura, Chief of Staff Dr. Peter Ketyenya County Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers, Directors, MCAs led by area MCA Fadhili Msuri, and other County officials and partners.