Kiambu: Five hundred youths in Kiambu County have graduated from various vocational training centers with short courses aimed at equipping them with practical skills to enhance their employability to create sustainable livelihoods. The graduates received NITA Level 3 certificates during a ceremony held at ACK St Paul’s Kiambu grounds, following training at Premiere Professional Institute (PPI) under a youth empowerment programme supported by the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
According to Kenya News Agency, the youth were drawn from five constituencies in Kiambu, including Kiambu Town, Kiambaa, Kabete, Lari, and Limuru, with a promise for the programme to extend to the remaining constituencies. The initiative, patronized by Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Wamuratha, offered free training in technical fields including hospitality, hairdressing, cosmetology, plumbing, and driving, among other vocational courses.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, PPI Director Joseph Ndua thanked the organizations and individuals who supported the programme, urging the graduates to utilize the skills acquired to create income-generating initiatives. ‘Our commitment is to equip learners with skills they can use to help themselves,’ said Ndua.
Wamuratha congratulated the graduates, noting that the programme was intended to give young people practical skills that could enable them to become self-reliant. She challenged the graduates to pursue further education and upgrade their skills, saying completion of the short courses should not mark the end of their learning journey. ‘Enroll and upgrade yourself; let graduation not be the end,’ she said.
Wamuratha said she was particularly encouraged by the determination of three older women who had enrolled for hospitality training, describing their decision to pursue education as an inspiration to younger generations. During the event, she also presented cooking equipment and warmers to a cooking group, while graduating groups received gifts related to their respective courses.
Murang’a Woman Rep. Sabina Chege, who attended the ceremony as the keynote speaker, also encouraged the graduates to make good use of the opportunities created through skills training. Deputy Director for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Erick Mwendo, representing the Principal Secretary, assured the graduates that their certificates could support them in seeking employment opportunities requiring the relevant qualifications. However, he encouraged them to continue advancing their education and acquiring additional competencies to remain competitive in the job market.
Some of the graduates shared testimonies on how the programme had transformed their lives. Joan Wanjiku, one of the beneficiaries, said she previously worked as a laundry woman before enrolling for training, adding that she now hoped to establish her own business using the skills acquired. ‘I want to help others just as I was helped,’ she said.
The graduation marks another milestone in efforts to equip young people with technical and vocational skills to improve their economic prospects.
