The Government has urged young people in Vihiga County to take advantage of the various youth empowerment programmes established to promote entrepreneurship, skills development, employment and economic growth.
Interviewed in his office, Vihiga County Director for Youth Affairs, Andrew Katito Maina, said the government has continued to invest in policies and programmes aimed at equipping young people with practical skills, affordable financing and business opportunities to enable them become self-reliant.
Director Maina said the Kenya National Youth Development Policy, first developed in 2006 and later reviewed, remains the government’s blueprint for youth empowerment by guiding the design and implementation of programmes that address the needs and aspirations of young people.
He noted that the establishment of a dedicated State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing youth challenges, adding that successive administrations have consistently prioritized youth development through targeted interventions.
Maina stated that youth affairs are anchored in the Constitution of Kenya, placing an obligation on the government to create opportunities that support young people as they transition into adulthood, a period often characterized by unemployment and limited access to economic opportunities.
The director urged young entrepreneurs to register businesses and obtain certification under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme, which reserves 30 per cent of government procurement opportunities for youth, women and persons with disabilities.
“Digitization of government services has simplified access to opportunities, with business registration now available online and through Huduma Centres across the country,” said Maina
He said, the Ministry of Youth Affairs also utilizes digital platforms, particularly WhatsApp groups, to disseminate information on scholarships, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship programmes and government services targeting young people.
Maina encouraged youth to take advantage of affirmative funds, including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Women Enterprise Fund and Uwezo Fund, which provide affordable financing to youth, women and persons with disabilities who may not qualify for commercial bank loans due to lack of collateral.
He explained that the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, established in 2007, has evolved from supporting only youth groups to financing both registered groups and individual entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 34 years using flexible security requirements.
Maina described the Uwezo Fund as a constituency-based revolving fund launched in 2014 to strengthen existing table banking initiatives and expand access to affordable credit for youth, women and persons with disabilities.
He, however, expressed concern over poor loan repayment, revealing that more than Sh133 million has been disbursed through the Uwezo Fund in Vihiga County since its inception, while only about Sh47 million has been recovered, leaving over Sh80 million outstanding.
The director noted that, timely loan repayment would enable the revolving fund to benefit more groups, and the beneficiaries with good repayment records qualify for progressively higher financing of up to Sh500,000.
Turning to the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, Maina described it as one of the government’s flagship youth empowerment initiatives funded by the World Bank to improve employability, expand business opportunities and promote a savings culture among young people.
He said the programme’ s On-the-Job Experience (OJE) component attaches beneficiaries to experienced artisans and master craft persons in trades such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, welding, mechanics, electrical installation and beauty therapy for five months.
“During the attachment, trainees receive a stipend every two weeks to cater for transport and meals, while the master craft persons mentoring them receive facilitation from the programme,” Maina explained.
“Before workplace placement, all participants undergo a 20-day Social Emotional Development (SED) training that equips them with workplace ethics, discipline, communication and professional skills,” he added.
He also disclosed that Vihiga County had targeted about 1,500 beneficiaries under the programme but successfully enrolled 1,140 youths, with more than 80 per cent already placed in workshops across the county.
He said initial challenges experienced under the automated placement system have since been addressed through collaboration with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) which has facilitated manual placement closer to beneficiaries’ homes.
Maina also highlighted the programme’s Business Development Services component, implemented through the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), saying approximately 1,900 young people in Vihiga have benefited from business grants issued in two instalments of Sh25,000 each to establish or expand enterprises.
He cited the example of a beneficiary in Luanda town in Vihiga County who successfully started a chapati business using the grant and has since built a growing customer base.
Maina emphasized that government empowerment programmes are intended to address unemployment while reducing social challenges such as crime, drug and substance abuse and political violence by equipping young people with marketable skills and sustainable sources of income.
“Separate politics from development programmes and instead focus on utilizing the opportunities available to improve livelihoods and contribute to national development,” Maina advised the youth.
He commended the close collaboration between the National Government and the Vihiga County Government in implementing youth programmes and thanked residents for their continued cooperation.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring every young person has access to opportunities that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable livelihoods.
By Clara Simiyu / Maureen Imbayi
