A total of 967 Machakos Youth Service (MYS) first cohort members under the Machakos Youth Empowerment Program have been awarded certificates from various Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
They also received start-up kits tailored to their specialisations to help them venture into self-employment and empowerment.
The startup kits and certificates are meant to give them a head start in self-employment after advancing in specialised training at the TVETs in the Sub counties in courses such as carpentry, welding, mechanics, plumbing, masonry, Dj, hairdressing, electrical works and food and beverage.
The MYS formation stage began in February with 1,000 underprivileged young men and women drawn from the 40 wards in Machakos who were recruited through a vigorous process and within a month were exposed to character formation, guidance and counselling, first aid, financial literacy and discipline, then later joined the TVETs for specialisation.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, while speaking during the graduation ceremony for the MYS at her office grounds, commended them for their discipline, teamwork, consistency and patience that have made the 967 pass their NITA exams.
“Today I am proud to announce that out of the 1,000 trainees, 967 passed their NITA exams that were fully sponsored by the county and the 33 who did not pass should not give up because they will re-sit the exam and come back stronger since resilience defines winners,” said the governor.
She added the MYS programme was a preconceived idea that had yielded fruits and was proud that they had unlocked the youths’ potential and nurtured their dreams and a generation that is self-reliant, innovative and productive.
Wavinya urged them to take charge of their future by creating opportunities rather than waiting for them and to be job creators, not job seekers, as Kenya’s future depends on their resilience and innovation.
“My government is cognisant of the fact that development is not just about infrastructure but about the people, to equip them with knowledge and skills they need to succeed through working with dignity and shaping their own destinies,” added Wavinya.
The guest of honour and Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka, on his part, encouraged the graduates to pursue their careers with diligence and dedication, noting the importance of youth empowerment in creating sustainable development.
“Machakos believes in you, Kenya believes in you. Together we can build a nation where no dream is too big, no voice is silenced and no young person is left behind,” said Musyoka.
Other guests present were Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, former Machakos town MP Victor Munyaka, Deputy Speaker Stephen Mwanthi, and MCAs led by majority leader Nicholas Nzioka, among other guests.
By Anne Kangero and Ann Wangui
