140 Isiolo youths benefit from Ujuzi Manyatani program

140 youths from Isiolo have benefited from a program that aims to transform youth from marginalized, poor and semi-arid remote areas.

The group graduated from various courses after a three-month training.

They gained skills in vessel repair and maintenance, motorcycle repair and maintenance, mobile phone repair and maintenance, welding, plumbing, masonry, electrical and solar installation, tailoring and dressmaking, catering, hairdressing, and beauty therapy.

Northern Rangelands Trust Trading CEO Vishal Shah said the program dubbed “Ujuzi Manyattani” started in 2019.

He said so far 1150 youths have graduated in arid and Semi-arid counties that include Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Laikipia, Baringo, West Pokot, Garissa, and Lamu counties.

In the program, NRT has partnered with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions such as Kiirua Technical Training Institute, Laikipia North Technical and Vocational College, and the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).

“We monitor our graduates and give them a tool kit to start a small business. We have about 98 per cent success. Most of our graduates are earning at least Sh8,000 per month which is double the average salaries for families in Arid and semi-arid counties earnings,” he said.

Vishal said the skills have a huge impact on the beneficiaries according to an impact survey conducted by NRT Trading in January 2023.

The graduates of Ujuzi Manyattani inject Sh97 million annually into the local economy through income earned.

He said the survey further reveals that at least 96% of our graduates embarked on self-employment.

He said the cost of doing the training per student is about Sh.160,000 including training, graduating giving out equipment after the training for graduates to start their businesses.

He spoke on Tuesday on the sidelines of an event celebrating the achievements of 140 youths from Leparua, Cherab, and Garbatulla Conservancies of Isiolo County.

He was accompanied by Tvet PS Esther Mworia.

PS Mworia said such skills are important to create employment and transform the country.

She said countries like Singapore and China were able to transform their countries because of skilling the youth.

She said his department will recognize prior learning and award certificates to youths with various skills.

Ali Ibrahim popularly is one of the beneficiaries of the Ujuzi Manyattani program.

Ali who benefited from the initiative by NRT in Leparua Conservancy said he learnt phone repair and was able to establish his business even before he graduated.

“There were a variety of courses to choose from including electrical wiring, catering, and motorcycle repair but chose phone repair as I was passionate about establishing a phone repair and sales shop,” he said.

Ali who was a Boda Boda operator before his training said he wanted a business with high returns within a short time as boda boda business was down due to high fuel costs.

Ali said, he started the course on October 2 last year and after two months, he opted to start a business even before he graduated.

“I did my budgeting and I partnered with another youth and we started a phone repair and sales shop in Isiolo. I saw a business opportunity as there were no many phone repair and spare sales shops,” Ali said.

Ali said he has now managed to employ two youths from his class in his shop.

“I have youths who work for me and they earn up to Sh1,500 in commission through taking orders from customers,” he said.

He said the program has also enabled several youths in the county to stay away from drugs as they concentrated on the course and from there most of them established their businesses.

“Phone repair is not a joke and you cannot concentrate when you are on drugs. You have to be sober so the program was like a rehabilitation centre for most of the youths who had started taking drugs,” Ali said

He said youths who were being used by politicians to hold demonstrations because they were idle are now engaged with their work.

Another beneficiary Adam Ali who is a boda boda mechanic said he completed his form four in 2022 and stayed for nine months at home.

"I heard about the program and I opted to join and get trained for three months and is now skilled to earn a living through motorcycle repair," he said.