Garissa Township MP Dekow urge youth to acquire technical skills

Youth in Garissa have been urged to take advantage of the growing demand for skilled workers to register for courses in Technical and Vocational Educational Training colleges.

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed told young people to wake up to the reality that white-collar jobs are diminishing.

He spoke at North Eastern Polytechnic while attending the Artisan Skills Assessment Registration for the Recognition of Prior Learning programme conducted by the National Industrial Training Authority.

“The reality is that the world of employment is changing, and we must change with it. White-collar jobs can no longer sustain everyone, and it's time for our youth to wake up to this new reality.

“Our youth must take advantage of the growing demand for skilled technical workers. Artisan jobs provide stability, dignity, and growth. Let's embrace these opportunities, upskill ourselves, and build a future that benefits our community,” he said.

He urged those with prior learning skills to register and get certification to enable them to qualify and be competitive in the job market.

Dekow said the government is keen to create job opportunities for skilled Kenyans and empower them economically.

“I want to urge young people to grab this opportunity and register for certification to compete effectively in the world market,” Dekow said.

“We will construct 2,000 affordable housing units in Township alone and 5,000 across the county.  We want young people receiving certification here as carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians and welders to work on these projects,” he added.

NITA chairman Aden Noor urged the youth to take the exercise seriously, noting that Prior Learning is a programme under the Kenya Kwanza government to enable Kenyans who have acquired skills to get certification.

“I want to join other leaders in urging Kenyans who are yet to acquire skills to register for TVET courses established in almost every sub-county,” he said.

“Internationally, we can migrate to Europe and the Middle East which offer many opportunities. However, one must train and acquire the necessary skills,” he said.

He termed technical skills and artisan training as the future of employment, saying it was regrettable to see jobless youths while millions of shillings are being spent on TVETs.