Nairobi: A total of 932 trainees from seven vocational training centres in Kajiado County have graduated under the KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri programme, in a move aimed at equipping young people with technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills.
According to Kenya News Agency, the graduates were drawn from Isinya, Namelok, Meto, Ole Kasasi, Nkaiseri, Maa Institute, and Endasopia vocational training centers, with 87 trainees recognised for outstanding performance. Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku highlighted the county government’s prioritization of education and vocational training as key drivers of youth empowerment and socio-economic development.
Lenku emphasized the county’s efforts in establishing vocational training institutions across its regions, including remote areas, to provide equitable access to technical education and skills development. ‘We made sure these services are available in every part of the County, including remote areas. Today, we are seeing our graduates becoming self-employed, while others are securing jobs in leading organisations,’ he said.
The Governor also stressed the necessity of investing in education to address historical gaps in access to formal education, which had impacted development in the county. He lauded the partnership with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) to strengthen technical and vocational training. The programme, which started with around 200 trainees, has expanded significantly, now benefitting over 1,400 young people.
Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho encouraged the graduates to utilize their acquired skills to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the country’s industrialisation agenda. He urged them to apply their knowledge productively, stating that industrialisation relies on skilled labour.
KCB Foundation Manager, Bernard Barasa, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to empowering young people through technical and vocational skills training in collaboration with the Kajiado County Government. He explained that the 2Jiajiri programme is designed to equip youth with employable and entrepreneurial skills, facilitating sustainable livelihoods through employment and enterprise development.
Janet Sereu, County Executive Committee Member for Vocational Training, Youth, and Sports, challenged the graduates to focus on job creation rather than solely seeking employment, encouraging them to transform the future of Kajiado County.
NITA representative Musa Opuk assured the graduates that their certifications were recognized both locally and internationally. He highlighted the success of graduates such as Ben Power Electricals, who established his own enterprise and created employment opportunities for others.
During the ceremony, 77 outstanding graduates received start-up toolkits to help them establish businesses. One of the beneficiaries, Benson Lemayian, shared his success story and motivated his peers to remain committed to their professions, highlighting the potential of technical skills to lead to meaningful careers and successful enterprises.
The 2Jiajiri programme, implemented by KCB Foundation in partnership with the Kajiado County Government, focuses on skilling young people through training and certification and supporting them to establish and grow their own enterprises. It aligns with the Fourth Pillar of the Kajiado County Development Agenda, which aims to promote equitable access to quality education and capitalize on global opportunities.
Since its inception in 2016, the 2Jiajiri programme has trained thousands of young people, disbursed more than Sh3 billion to support youth enterprises, and issued over 5,000 start-up toolkits. The latest graduates bring the total number of beneficiaries to more than 1,400.
