Over 700 youths from Murang’a county have received Sh15,000 from the county government to start small businesses.
This is after completing short technical courses in local vocational institutions sponsored by the county administration.
The beneficiaries are part of the youths who have benefited from casual jobs from the county government under Murang’a Youth Service programme that was started in October last year.
Under the Sh115 million programme, youths are engaged to help clean urban centres for a period of three months, receiving a Sh400 daily stipend.
Out of the money, Sh100 goes to their parents in a bid to turn them into key motivators of the youths as they perform their duties.
After three months, the youths are then enrolled in various TVETS for free technical courses after which they each receive the startup funds.
The programme has helped boost hygiene in the county that had only 200 sweepers to keep shopping centres clean.
Governor Irungu Kang'ata said the county's wage bill is at 46 per cent of the county's total revenue, way above the 35 per cent provided for by Public Finance Management Act.
"This limits the number of people a county can employ but this programme ensures that we provide job opportunities to youths,” he said.
While officiating their graduation at Ihura stadium, the governor appealed to the youths to ensure they use the funds to start businesses that will change their standards of living.
He announced that his administration will waive all taxes for the beneficiaries to enable their businesses to thrive.
So far, about 3,000 youths have been engaged in the programme with the graduates expected to acquire National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) by September after which they can also seek employment.
“We are happy that with this programme, money is circulating in the grassroots and we are looking for more ways to create jobs for youths.
“When we started, I did not understand the scale of joblessness among the youths until we started recruiting under the programme and I saw over 600 youths turn up for only 30 slots at one point,” the governor added.
Kang’ata further noted that paying the youths through bank accounts ensures they can access credit to expand their businesses.
Jane Muthoni, one of the beneficiaries, explained that the hairdressing course she has undertaken will enable her to actualise her dream of operating a hairdressing business.
“I have always aspired to be self employed but I could not because of financial constraints,” Muthoni, a resident of Karung’e village in Mathioya subcounty, said.