Kiambu county will set aside a youth day to give young people a chance to air their concerns to be addressed by the county government.
This was after the youth requested Governor Kimani Wamatangi to set aside a day to have the county government listen to the issues affecting them. They made the request during the celebrations of International Youth Day held at the county government headquarters in Kiambu town.
While acknowledging the request, Wamatangi said there is need to have a serious conversation to deal with youth issues including unemployment and alcohol, drugs and substance abuse menace.
"I agree and I want the department of youths to sit down with the young people and deliberate on a suitable day for Kiambu County Youth Day," Wamatangi said.
"We will sit down the government, the youths and other partners to discuss issues affecting the youth."
He said substance, alcohol and drug abuse is one agenda that his administration cannot lose sight of.
"We used to have one rehabilitation centre in Kiambu county for addicts of either alcohol, substance or drug abuse. It was closed and only private entities remained in operation," Wamatangi said.
He said a well-wisher has donated land in Ndeiya subcounty and his administration and also set aside land in Limuru subcounty where they will build county government rehabilitation centres this financial year .
"Once those who are affected by the menace are brought to the fold to recover, the county government will have put their own hand to ensure the process is complete and we can reclaim those youths who had been trapped in addiction problems," Wamatangi said.
The governor urged the youth to be innovative as the county government has revived the Kiambu County Jiinue Fund, and funded it to a tune of Sh1 billion.
"We are putting in place structures that will allow our young people to borrow from the Jiinue fund for entrepreneurs. We are not only increasing the funds but also creating avenues where those who are not lucky to proceed for higher learning can borrow from the fund to start businesses and empower themselves," Wamatangi said.
He said he has made it a priority and budgeted to have a fully equipped ICT hub in every ward of the county so the young people can have an opportunity for online jobs.
County Governance Watch executive director Kevin Osido said Kiambu youth have issues they would want to be addressed in an exclusive forum.
"Set aside a day so that you can sit down with Kiambu county youths and listen to them. One of those issues that you would want to listen and address is drug and substance abuse as it is a huge menace in this county," he said.
Osido said unemployment in the county is a big problem.
He said a survey shows Kiambu county has more than 117 organisations, including universities and institutions of higher learning, but employment is mostly awarded to "outsiders".
"When we asked the Kiambu youths why they are not taking the opportunity of seeking jobs in the organisations within the county, they told us that those opportunities are given to outsiders even though they have applied. People from other counties get employed in Kiambu county but the youth of Kiambu do not get that opportunity," he said.
Youth executive Osman Korar said the department has embarked on creating partnerships to equip young people with digital skills.
He said that the department is also running mentorship programmes for the youth.
