About 400 youth from Tharaka-Nithi county are expected to receive technical vocational skills training to access Micro, Small and Medium enterprise funding programme from the KCB Foundation for the next two years.
The programme dubbed ‘2jiajiri’ is part of tackling youth unemployment at county level through supporting the creation of small and medium enterprises and youth skills training.
KCB Head of Foundation, Caroline Wanjeri assured the Group’s commitment in supporting the youth as the country navigates the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A lot of the young businesses were affected by the pandemic, and as responsible corporate citizens, we believe that we have a duty to support them in the revival of our economy.”
The partnership will be executed under KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme that focuses on youth skills development and job creation through enterprise development, operating across the country.
Under the terms of the deal, Tharaka-Nithi county will receive Ksh.16 million for youth trained in the technical sectors of automotive Industry, construction and beauty through accredited locally based TVETs in the county.
Others who will benefit from the fund are the personal care and domestic services,
On his part, Tharaka-Nithi county Governor Muthomi Njuki noted that the county is keen in generating sustainable decent jobs and income generating activities for its youth and spur economic development at a grassroots level.
“I encourage the youth in Tharaka-Nithi to take advantage of this programme, as it is fully sponsored and is a sure path to a brighter future. I am keen to see to it that we have a thriving youth owned, micro, small, and medium enterprises, where we can even export our expertise, goods and services to other counties in the country.” Mr Njuki said.
Through the 2jiajiri programme, the KCB Foundation aims to formalize the informal sector and create jobs by making deliberate social investments directed at solving the youth unemployment and the stagnation of existing small informal businesses.
For six years now at least 16,000 youth have received skills training under the programme at a tune of over KShs. 540M loans disbursed to create 64,186 jobs directly and 35,365 indirectly and 4,158 businesses currently under incubation.
