Over 6,000 youths trained, empowered through Murang'a Youth Service

Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata during the graduation ceremony of the sixth cohort of Murang'a Youth Service/ALICE WAITHERA

The Murang’a county government has so far trained 6,300 youths in technical courses through Murang’a Youth Service.

The programme started in 2022 and recruits a batch of approximately 1,000 youths every three months, who are engaged in cleaning towns, thereby helping to improve hygiene in markets and shopping centres.

Afterwards, the youths are enrolled in local polytechnics where they undertake free technical courses and are facilitated to undertake National Industrial Training Authority examinations.

After graduation, the youths are provided with a seed capital of Sh15,000 to start their small businesses and become self-employed.

“This fund are a grant. My appeal is that you use it to uplift your life and provide jobs to other youths,” Governor Irungu Kang’ata said.

He said the programme was started following the realisation that most programmes undertaken by the county administration target the elderly, leaving the youths unattended.

The youths are paid Sh400 per day, but they receive Sh300, with the remaining Sh100 sent to their parents.

The youths have helped boost the county workforce. Some towns did not have cleaners, and residents complained about the poor hygiene.

“Kenol town, for example, had only eight sweepers, yet it’s one of the busiest towns we have. These youths now help ensure all parts of the county are clean at all times,” Kang'ata said.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the sixth cohort, the governor pointed out that his administration was stopped from employing more people due to a bloated workforce and the programme provided a platform to empower youths.

He challenged the national government to come up with ways of creating jobs to quell the discontent among the youth.

“Youth unemployment is a huge issue and, from where I sit, I think the message Gen Zs are sending is that they want a better country, a more open society that thinks about the youth. They want job opportunities created”.

A medic at one of the two theatres included in the new medical block at Murang'a County Referral Hospital

The governor also unveiled a new medical facility that is expected to improve services at Murang’a County Referral Hospital.

The twin events were held at the hospital’s ground and attended by a group of leaders, including Babu Owino (Embakasi East), David Mwenje (Embakasi West) and Peter Salasya (Mumias East).

The new medical block will raise the hospital’s bed facility from the current 285 to about 400, reducing congestion at the hospital which has seen patients share beds.

The new block also doubles the number of operating theatres from two to four and is a major infrastructural upgrade at hospital.

The expansion is expected to significantly reduce waiting times particularly for expectant women and other emergency cases.

“This is a historic moment for Murang’a. With this new wing, we are not only easing congestion but also improving access to quality and timely medical care for our people,” Kang’ata said.

The new facility includes a modern casualty department catering to both adults and children, along with a wing for specialist outpatient clinics.

It also includes a fully equipped laboratory, pharmacy and radiology services and frees up space in the old hospital block to expand the Newborn Unit and general wards, and establish a rehabilitation centre.

Owino hailed Kang’ata for the programme, saying similar activities should be replicated in all parts of the country to empower young people.

“It’s a model for how county governments can address unemployment while instilling discipline and dignity among the youth.”

The MP took a swipe at President William Ruto for the shoot-the-legs order, saying he sought power to better Kenyans’ lives.

“If the young people are shot and die, who will be left in the country to be led? Presidents come and go but the nation remains intact. Four other presidents came before you and left, and you will also leave but you should leave the country better not bitter,” he said.

Mwenje said a nation can only be built from the ground up and that failing to consider the youth is a major undoing, while Salasya praised Kang’ata for providing local youths with a lifeline.