Residents of Antobentwe Kiongo Market in Igembe North are experiencing renewed optimism and improved public services following the revival of the Meru Youth Service (MYS), a county initiative aimed at empowering young people while enhancing community welfare through structured engagement and civic responsibility.
The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Roads, who also serves as the Meru County Secretary, David Baariu, joined MYS recruits in a community clean-up exercise at the busy market, marking part of their ongoing training programme focused on service delivery and skills development.
The exercise, which involved clearing waste and unblocking drainage systems, is part of a broader countywide initiative targeting markets and urban centres across Meru County, with Antobentwe Kiongo Market among the key beneficiaries of the programme.
Baariu praised the youths for their commitment, noting that the initiative is designed to equip them with practical life skills, discipline, and economic independence while fostering community responsibility.
He explained that recruitment was done fairly across all wards, with each ward contributing 20 youths who are currently earning a daily stipend of Sh500 to support their basic needs during training.
“This training is meant to prepare them for the future. After completion, they will undergo a pass-out ceremony and proceed to Vocational Training Centres where they will acquire technical skills of their choice. The county government will also provide start-up kits to help them begin their own ventures,” said Baariu.
He further noted that the programme incorporates elements of paramilitary-style discipline similar to the National Youth Service, aimed at instilling order, responsibility, and focus among participants.
Baariu added that the initiative has already contributed to reducing cases of drug abuse, crime, and other social challenges such as teenage pregnancies among young people in the region.
He urged the community to continue supporting the youths even after completion of the programme, encouraging the recruits to remain focused on building better futures.
“After this, you should not go back to where you were. Move forward and build your lives,” he told them.
The clean-up exercise significantly improved sanitation within the market, enhancing the working environment for traders and improving drainage systems that had previously been blocked.
The MYS programme, which had been inactive for several years, was originally established under former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi. Its revival has been widely welcomed by residents who say they are already witnessing visible improvements in public spaces and youth engagement.
Antobentwe Kiongo Market trader representative Beatrice Kabiro Maore expressed appreciation to the county government, noting that improved cleanliness and better lighting have enhanced business operations.
“We are thankful for empowering our youth and cleaning this market. The lighting has also made it safer, and we can now work even at night,” she said.
Market Chairman Ayub Miriti Samwuel echoed similar sentiments, stating that the levelling of the market and addition of murram have made the area more suitable for business activities.
He recalled that traders previously operated in a bushy and poorly maintained environment but now benefit from an organized and cleaner trading space.
“We now have a clean and organized market. We only ask the county government to add more lighting and consider installing cabro within the market to further improve accessibility,” he said.
As the MYS programme continues to expand across Meru County, its dual impact on youth empowerment and community development remains increasingly evident.
For many residents, the initiative is not only restoring order and cleanliness in public spaces but also helping rebuild the future of young people through skills training, discipline, and economic empowerment.
By Kamanja Maeria
