Kiambu County has launched a major initiative in addressing unemployment by hosting a Youth Employability Summit at its headquarters.
The Department of Youth Affairs, Sports & Communication organised the event under the theme “Empowering Youth with Skills for Employment and Entrepreneurship.
Attended by hundreds of job seekers, graduates, and entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35, the summit provided a crucial platform to equip the region’s youth with the digital and practical skills required in a modern economy.
To ensure a lasting impact, the county teamed up with the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA Kenya) with their shared focus being the anchoring of economic growth at the community level by equipping youth led enterprises with essential development resources and strategic guidance.
The summit went beyond career advice to financial action, with Governor Wamatangi announcing an economic incentive package designed to lower entry barriers for young business owners.
“To our young entrepreneurs, we are removing the roadblocks to your success by officially waiving all business startup fees for at least one year. Furthermore, we are backing this up with direct capital allocation funds to breathe new life into struggling youth enterprises and to get your ideas off the ground,” stated the governor.
Additionally, MSEA representatives at the event noted that the Kiambu summit mirrors the core objectives of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program.
They emphasized their shared focus on building financial resilience and providing startup incubation for youth across Kenya.
The forum served as an effective matchmaking platform linking ambitious local youth with major industry stakeholders from the corporate, financial, and non-profit sectors.
Attendees received strategic mentorship and career guidance from a diverse group of prominent institutions, including Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), the Kenya Red Cross, Generation Kenya, KNCCI, Her Hustle, Kenya Institute of Education (KIE), and Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI).
The Youth Employability Summit marked a turning point for Kiambu youth by shifting the conversation from the challenges of unemployment to economic empowerment by combining immediate financial relief with long-term digital training and corporate partnerships.
by Hellen Lunalo
