More than 60 youths from Kisumu County have been selected to join the National Youth Service (NYS).
Kisumu Senator Prof Tom Ojienda said 64 youths have benefited from the initiative targeted at empowering and making youths productive and self-reliant.
Prof Ojienda said the youths were selected across the seven sub-counties in Kisumu.
Out of the youths, 30 were taken for training last year with 34 going for training this year after they were given letters.
Prof Ojienda through his office manager Dr Simon Peter handed over the confirmation letters to the beneficiaries on Wednesday.
“We are happy that these youths are going to be highly trained because the government is focusing on NYS while recruiting military, police and prison officers,” he said.
The senator said he was committed towards the betterment of the youths within the county to help transform their lives and the community at large.
“We want to ensure our youths are independent through development-oriented projects and empowerment initiatives for employment opportunities,” Prof Ojienda said.
The best way to increase earnings and improve the lives of the youths was through engaging them in constructive projects, he said.
“My office will be undertaking this initiative every year because our sole goal is to change the lives of the youths. We will continue to work with the government through NYS for future recruitment,” Prof. Ojienda said.
The youth, he said, once they complete training and get equipped with the different skills, they will be taken to various organisations based on their skills for employment.
Besides NYS, the Senator’s office has also linked youths to other state agencies for training and employment.
Some of the beneficiaries are the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other security agencies.
According to the Senator’s service delivery scorecard, 15 youths have been linked to supermarket jobs. More than 100 youths have also been connected with road construction firms.
In addition, 16 youths were employed by Keroche while 42 young women were linked and employed by a local NGO.
Prof. Ojienda said 12 youths were linked and permanently employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) with eight others as interns.
At the Kenya Forest Service, four have been recruited while 62 youths are directly engaged on monthly stipends by the senator’s office.
He added that 26 youths have also been connected and provided with IGA facilities.
Dr Simon noted that the Senator was committed to fulfilling the promises he made to the youths.
He said working closely with the government has seen many youths absorbed in various state agencies for training and employment.
He pledged that the senator’s office will continue to support the young people to ensure they get something sustainable to increase their income.
“The office is open to everyone. We will always be ready to support the people of Kisumu to improve their livelihoods,” Dr Simon said.
He announced that they have partnered with the Ministry of Health, and would soon distribute 2,000 mosquito-treated nets to those in flood-prone areas in Kisumu.
The manager said they are working with the Ministry of Gender and Culture to support families who have in the past been affected by floods.
Dr Simon said the Senator has also reached out to the Ministry of Interior which will vail food to be distributed to locals, especially those who are very needy.
