Equipping young people with technical skills will drive country’s economy, urges Kenya Women Mp Hon Elsie Muhanda

As Kakamega County, Kenya’s second largest county sets for a noble socio-economic takeoff, her young people are asked to take a big role in making it a reality. Young people known for their energy have every reason and potential to play as frontiers for the present and future growths of the country’s economy.

Despite much efforts and concerns being raised to address this issue, young people need proper preparations towards this course says Kakamega County Women Representative Hon. Elsie Muhanda.  This involves a full spectrum of activities – equipping young people with skills. Creation of a humble environment for employment, and setting them on the path towards a fulfilling career and life.

Through her programme dubbed as ‘Tumaini Scholars’, Kakamega County Women Representative  Hon Elsie Muhanda has set aside a fulfilling initiative that will witness young people across the county who either dropped out of schools, scored low grades and failed to secure tertiary school training to further their dreams.

Tumaini Scholarships has drawn over 180 young people across Kakamega County targeting proficient tertiary institutions across Kenya with technical training to equip young people with skills which according to Mrs. Elsie this will, in turn, create jobs for the successful learners and interested parties in the near future.

Kenya’s biggest population comprises of young people with looming deficiency of job opportunities rendering many young people without something substantial to lean on. The Kenyan education system dwells much on theoretical approaches which leads to young people who graduate from schools lack some ‘work’ to lean on, a quest whose impact has and continues to affect the country’s economy.

Equipping young people with technical skills will not only open doors for the creation of opportunities for young people but also grow high demand for goods, services, and manpower across Kakamega County and the country at large. Take an example of a well-trained hairdresser he or she will be on high demand in areas where there is a deficiency of the expertise at the same time one will tirelessly work hard to seek for materials in the same field hence empowering the suppliers, distributors, and even the manufacturers.

The demand for skilled jobs never diminishes, in fact, it grows day by day. People construct houses, roads, bridges etc. every day. This calls for skilled manpower hence contributing to their (youths) better future and the generations to come.

Mrs. Elsie’s Tumaini scholars programme is attracting both male and female counterparts. She urges young women to favorably compete and fight for the training spaces as they are equal partners in the country’s growths.

“My programme to equip young people with technical skills should be viewed as an equal opportunity for all, gone are days where men only  went for such courses, today women too can train and work with competence.” Said Hon Elsie Muhanda

The writer is an officer in charge of Communications and Public Relations, Office of Women Representative, Kakamega County, Kenya