More than a thousand unemployed youth from Laikipia County are set to benefit from the government sponsored Nyota apprentice programme.
The youth drawn from the 15 wards in the county were inducted on Monday and are expected to undergo 20 days training before placement to various institutions where they will be apprenticed for five months to gain skills through National Youth Opportunities towards Advancement (Nyota).
The initiative dubbed On Job Experience will see the young people acquire skills on beauty and therapy, welding, plumbing, and barber among others.
Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Muli speaking at Inooro girls secondary during the launch on Monday said that the programme will dissuade youth from engaging in criminal activities and drugs and substances abuse since majority will be engaged.
‘’The programme targets youth whose majority of them have been idle and now they will be occupied for 20 days before deployment to institutions. We want our youth to be disciplined,’’ said the administrator.
He added that the Government would also cater for the needs of the beneficiaries for the period they will be undergoing the training programme.
Muli encouraged the youth to take advantage of the programme that he noted aimed to equip them with skills and boost their employability chances since upon completion they will be awarded certificates from National Industrial and Training Authority (NITA).
Laikipia County Director of Youth affairs Muigai Waiharo highlighted that for the first 20 days, the youth will be trained on social emotional skills aimed to ensure they are able to relate with their trainers seamlessly.
Nyota Programme management unit officer Anthony Simiyu said that over eight hundred thousand youths are expected to benefit from the programme across the country.
The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude noting that the initiative was a major boost and will uplift their lives.
By Muturi Mwangi
