Nairobi: Mombasa County Government has partnered with Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) to expand vocational skills training and economic empowerment opportunities for women and young people. Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir affirmed the administration’s commitment to improving access to education and creating pathways for residents to acquire practical skills that enhance livelihoods and promote self-reliance.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Nassir spoke at Tononoka Grounds in Mvita Sub-County during SHOFCO’s community leadership elections, presided over by the organisation’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Odede. The event gathered hundreds of residents who elected officials to lead SHOFCO’s grassroots structures in Mombasa, with positions contested including chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary general, assistant secretary general, treasurer, youth representative, women representative, vice women representative, persons with disabilities representative, and minority representative.
Nassir emphasized that education and youth empowerment remain central pillars of his development agenda. The county government, alongside the Mombasa County Assembly, has established a revolving fund to support vocational training for young people in trades such as welding, tailoring, and masonry. This initiative aims to equip young people with employable skills for securing livelihoods, starting businesses, and creating employment opportunities.
The Governor highlighted the county’s education support programmes designed to reduce the financial burden on families and encourage school attendance. The school feeding programme for learners in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres and public secondary schools has eased the pressure on parents by reducing education-related expenses. Nassir stated that the programme has enabled more learners to attend school consistently by supporting families struggling with rising living costs.
Nassir praised SHOFCO for conducting a transparent and inclusive election, stating the process demonstrated that leadership contests can be conducted without divisions based on ethnicity, religion, or race. He suggested that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission could learn from the SHOFCO elections, which were free, fair, and peaceful due to transparency and unity.
Odede, speaking during the event, expressed SHOFCO’s belief that sustainable development begins with empowering communities to elect accountable leaders who understand and champion local priorities. He pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Mombasa County Government to expand vocational training, entrepreneurship programmes, and economic empowerment initiatives targeting women and youth. Odede emphasized the importance of women and young people as the backbone of communities, aiming to build stronger families and a more prosperous society through practical skills and economic empowerment.
The Governor welcomed the partnership, viewing collaboration with development partners like SHOFCO as a way to accelerate efforts to address unemployment, strengthen community resilience, and improve household incomes. The peaceful conclusion of the SHOFCO elections left residents optimistic about the newly elected leaders’ potential to strengthen community participation and support development programmes across Mombasa County.
