By M, KNA
Youths from Vihiga County have urged the government to allocate more funds towards youth projects in the 2026/2026 financial year budget.
The youth voiced their request on Thursday during a round table meeting with Vihiga County executive members for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Dr Julius Maruja, Gender, Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Ruth Agesa, and Moffat Nabangi, Director at Commerce, Tourism and Cooperatives, who was representing the CEM Joseph Lunani.
The meeting was convened by Siaya County Youth Network in collaboration with GIZ that is working with youths in five counties including Siaya, Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma and Vihiga in the Agri- food sector.
Project Officer, Youth Leadership Training Project, Siaya County Youth Network, Dina Awuor said the purpose of the meeting was for the youth to present the county Fiscal Strategy paper to the county executive members, so that they can discuss and adopt some issues to be factored in the 2026/2027 budget.
Awuor called on members of the County Assembly to prioritize youth projects and allocate them more funds once the Fiscal Strategy paper is submitted to them on February 28, 2026.
She urged the youths to be agents of positive change and influence wherever they are. On matters employment, she asked the youth to get into Agribusiness instead of complaining, noting that purposeful agribusiness was good self-employment.
“If youths can embrace Agri-food and agri-business, go for training and capacity building, most of them will become self-employed and even provide employment to fellow youths,” said Awuor.
One of the youth leader Paul Kuya said it is high time Vihiga County gets a youth policy which will guide them on their operations and give them a voice.
He regretted that the youth policy has taken long to be passed saying that they have been using the youth service act which is long outdated.
Another youth Jefreys Gidayi called on the county government to give them feedback whenever there is a public participation forum, complaining they never get feedback after presenting their views on matters affecting the youth, noting. the feedback would guide them on the next step to take.
The youths requested the government to allocate part of the youth training budget towards direct agribusiness grants for already trained youth and youth groups and to support the Youth Agribusiness Coordinating Unit (YACU).
They urged the county government to support 150 youth fish farmers equitably distributed across high fish production wards with coolers.
They said they would like 750 youth dairy cow farmers and 50 youth dairy goat farmers to be supported financially and receive relevant training, and 500 youths to receive training and support in the avocado value chain by being given quality seeds.