President William Ruto has revealed that the government will financially support 90,000 youths in a bid to boost skill development among young people.
Speaking in Eldoret on Thursday, January 8, the Head of State said that the youths will be enrolled in an on-the-job training programme by being attached to a master craftsman or woman for expertise transfer and will receive Ksh6,000 over the course of the training.
The President assured that the government will cover other costs related to certification, as well as pay the master craftsmen.
He did not, however, indicate the criteria that the government will use to choose young people who will benefit from the programme, or when exactly it will commence.
"At the same time, we will support another 90,000 young people to undergo on-the-job training. They will be attached to master craftsmen and women for skills transfer and receive a Ksh6,000 stipend a month for six months. The master craftsmen will also be paid, as the government also meets the cost of certification," Ruto said.
The government will further train 600,000 persons with disabilities to enable them to participate in government procurement opportunities, which have already been reserved for them, according to the president.
The President is optimistic that these efforts will be fundamental in unlocking the untapped economic potential the young people hold, through avenues such as digital jobs and affordable housing programmes, among other infrastructural projects.
Ruto further revealed that the government will support 20,000 youths who are enrolled in the NYOTA programme, under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component, and will fund a certification course for them to enable a seamless transition into employment.
Furthermore, the president confirmed that the government has already disbursed Ksh250million to 9,500 young people from Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, and West Pokot counties through the NYOTA programme.
"Each beneficiary has received Ksh22,000 to grow their enterprises. An additional Ksh3,000 has been deposited into the young businesspeople's savings accounts at the National Social Security Fund," Ruto said.
The Head of State assured that the government has reinforced strategies to ensure that each youth gets an equal and fair opportunity to access the funds. The president said that all beneficiaries of the programme deserved them by Merit and not favouritism.
“I am very happy that there is no one who has been pushed to be here or anyone who has bribed anyone to be here. If there is anyone who has bribed his way to this list, let them stand,” Ruto asked.
