Mombasa County Government has partnered with Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) to expand vocational skills training and economic empowerment opportunities for women and young people.
Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir said his administration remains committed to improving access to education and creating pathways for residents to acquire practical skills that enhance livelihoods and promote self-reliance.
The Governor spoke at Tononoka Grounds in Mvita Sub-County during SHOFCO’s community leadership elections presided over by the organisation’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Odede.
The exercise brought together hundreds of residents who elected officials to lead SHOFCO’s grassroots structures in Mombasa.
Positions contested included chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary general, assistant secretary general, treasurer, youth representative, women representative, vice women representative, persons with disabilities representative, and minority representative.
Addressing residents after the elections, Nassir said education and youth empowerment remain central pillars of his administration’s development agenda.
He said the county government, in collaboration with the Mombasa County Assembly, had established a revolving fund to support vocational training for young people in various trades, including welding, tailoring, and masonry.
The initiative is aimed at equipping young people with employable skills that enable them to secure livelihoods, start businesses, and create employment opportunities for others.
“Our vision is to ensure that every young person has an opportunity to acquire practical skills that can improve their livelihoods. We want our youth to become job creators instead of job seekers, and that is why we continue investing in vocational training and empowerment programmes,” Nassir said.
The Governor noted that the county had also implemented education support programmes to reduce the financial burden on families and encourage children to remain in school.
He said the county’s school feeding programme targeting learners in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres and public secondary schools had helped ease pressure on parents by reducing education-related expenses.
According to Nassir, the programme has enabled more learners to attend school consistently by supporting families struggling with rising costs of living.
He added that the county government had introduced free ECDE education, supplied learning materials, and ensured ECDE teachers receive their salaries on time to improve the quality of early childhood education.
On governance, Nassir praised SHOFCO for conducting a transparent, peaceful, and inclusive election, saying the process demonstrated that leadership contests can be conducted without divisions based on ethnicity, religion, or race.
“The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission can draw valuable lessons from the SHOFCO elections. This process has shown that elections can be free, fair, and peaceful when transparency and unity are upheld,” he said.
The Governor challenged SHOFCO to expand its civic education model to other counties ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying it would promote informed participation and strengthen peaceful democratic processes.
He commended SHOFCO leadership and members for their continued efforts in empowering communities and creating opportunities for vulnerable groups.
Nassir said the county government would continue partnering with organisations that prioritize citizen participation and community-driven development.
Speaking during the event, Odede said SHOFCO believes sustainable development begins when communities are empowered to elect accountable leaders who understand and champion local priorities.
He said the newly elected officials would serve as a link between residents and SHOFCO in implementing programmes focused on education, healthcare, livelihoods, and social welfare.
Odede pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Mombasa County Government to expand vocational training, entrepreneurship programmes, and economic empowerment initiatives targeting women and youth.
“Women and young people are the backbone of our communities. By equipping them with practical skills and creating opportunities for economic empowerment, we are building stronger families and a more prosperous society. We look forward to working closely with Governor Nassir to transform more lives in Mombasa,” Odede said.
The Governor welcomed the partnership, saying collaboration between the county government and development partners such as SHOFCO would accelerate efforts to address unemployment, strengthen community resilience, and improve household incomes.
The SHOFCO elections concluded peacefully, with residents expressing optimism that the newly elected leaders would strengthen community participation and support the implementation of development programmes across Mombasa County.
By Joshua Peter
