Youths drawn from Nyamira and Bomet counties are participating in peaceful sensitization forum focused on the various government initiatives, aimed at empowering the young population to become independent and dependable citizens.

Speaking Tuesday during the official opening ceremony of the two-day forum dubbed Kikao at the Nyamira Uhuru Gardens, County Commissioner (CC) Benson Leparmorijo, said the Kenya Kwanza government was committed to supporting projects and programmes, geared towards improving livelihoods of the youth across the country.

“There are several critical issues affecting our youth nowadays including rampant unemployment, impacts of climate change, mental health conditions, drugs and substance abuse, among other socio-economic and political issues.

These challenges can only be overcome by engaging in meaningful dialogues. As youths, you need digital skills, entrepreneurial skills, technical training, participation in governance and community development initiatives, so that you can be actively involved in the country’s agenda of empowering the young segment of our population and grow a vibrant future generation.

You are already leaders in your own accord and as long as you are registered as voters you have every democratic right to make an independent decision of electing good and visionary leaders into power, who will push the youth’s agenda while in leadership,” said Leparmorijo.

The CC challenged the youth to participate in business mentorship programmes to bridge the gap in merging career skills in the emerging business models.

He cited the global online economies with the help of digital hubs, innovation, engineering and manufacturing sector, the green and blue economy, the international labour mobility programme popularly dubbed Kazi Majuu, as some of the numerous opportunities the youth could exploit and earn a decent living.

Leparmorijo said the government had also initiated several avenues through which youths can access financial grants like the Nyota programme, the Youth Fund, which was offering cheap and reliable interest free financing for the youth to help fund their startup businesses or any other entrepreneurial engagements that will earn them profits.

George Mbogo, the Director Policy, Research and Mainstreaming at the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, said the Kikao sensitization forum for Nyamira and Bomet was very timely because the youth needed to be involved in decision making, especially when discussing issues affecting them because their voice and input were key in policy formulation and implementation.

“We learn from you as much as you learn from us and that is the reason why we are having this workshop, so that it is more of a dialogue on certain policy issues affecting youths in your respective counties down here at the grassroot.

The State Department wants to nurture leadership from amongst you to be at the forefront in combating drugs and substance abuse among the youth, participate in peace building initiatives and actively participate in mental health awareness campaigns in our local communities to grow healthy and mentally stable communities,” Mbogo elaborated.

The Director urged the youths to be free in their deliberations and ask as many questions as they can to all the presenters and give their suggestions on programmes they want introduced and those they want amended to enable them be fully empowered.

Nyamira Youth Affairs Director Beatrice Mogendi said it was a great privilege for the county to host the sensitization forum, as it had given them the opportunity to extensively interact and share with fellow youths from the neighbouring Bomet County.

“Our youths have eagerly been waiting for this forum. This is like no other because it has an all-inclusive design, where issues affecting the youth are freely and exhaustively discussed and recommendations made.

The youths are excited and actively engaging because they know this is a golden opportunity, which they must fully utilize to guide their next trajectory of their lives.

The peaceful sensitization forum attracted over 500 youthful participants and also the relevant departmental heads dealing with youth issues, whose interaction helped youths present to make informed decisions.

By Deborah Bochere