Support youth to improve security, MCA tells Machakos leaders

Athi River MCA Jeremiah Kaloi has urged Machakos leaders to support youths in their daily hustles to improve security.

Kaloi said there was reprieve among residents of Athi River, Machakos County as tens of youths benefited from a ‘tools for livelihood’ programme, courtesy of his office.

The programme, according to the county legislator, is intended at equipping hundreds of unemployed residents especially youth and women get necessary skills, tools and equipment as a way of empowering them earn livelihoods through self – employment.

The programme is packaged in a way that the beneficiaries are trained on various business areas of their choices before they are issued with tools of trade in various business lines.

The MCA has so far donated tens of car wash machines, water tanks, and tents as well and boosted already existing small and medium businesses belonging to residents within his ward.

“My tools for livelihood initiative is intended to sustain vulnerable families and youths hustling to make ends meet," he said.

"It gives them opportunities to start their small scale businesses to earn livelihoods. My office also boosts already existing small businesses,” Kaloi told the Star on Sunday.

He said high rates of unemployment in Athi River and entire country as well as high cost of living had prompted him to come up with the initiative that has been running for the last six months now.

Kaloi said he advocates for youth empowerment through skilling, training, education, mentorship and funding for sustainable development and improved living standards in the community.

The initiative, Kaloi said, had also helped improve security in Athi River and its environs.

“Youth don’t need fish, but fishing nets. If we train them on how to fish and provide them with fishing nets as tool of trade, they will be able to fish daily and earn livelihoods without interferences,” Kaloi said.

The MCA said he was working with boda boda operators to renovate their sheds across the ward.

“My office is also helping the youth to secure job opportunities in factories around. We are also in the process of acquiring trolleys for the youth within my ward to boost them in their businesses especially those who sell eggs in a project we are promoting,” Kaloi said.

He said his office had supported several youth by issuing them with capital to establish egg hawking businesses.

On talent, he said his office had identified those in arts and supported several.

“We as an office intend to provide cleaning materials for the youths who have established a CBO on matters environment by equally providing necessary tools. We are at an advanced stage of pushing for private partnerships with local residents and companies around,” Kaloi said.

He said the environmental conservation project would make the environment clean and safe hence improved health standards among residents.

Kaloi said as the area MCA, he was always ready to go an extra mile of mobilising necessary resources for residents, especially youth and women for improved livelihoods in Athi River ward.

Makadara Stage boda boda operators’ chairman Joseph Olago thanked Kaloi for what he termed a good gesture for not only the operators, but Athi River youths at large.

“Kaloi has helped us renovate our stage after we knocked several doors to no avail, we are grateful since the problem of being rained on at the shed is a thing of the past,” Olago said.

The stage, Olago said, hosts 35 operators.

The MCA’s office helped renovate the shed in its entirety by replacing rotten polls with metallic ones, replacing its roof with new iron sheets and also repairing the floor.

“I thank Kaloi for supporting our hustles, we believe that he will support other boda boda operators and the youth,” Olago said.

Kaloi urged the youth to keep off crime and always seek help where needed.

He called on other elected leaders in Machakos County to join hands in supporting residents’ hustles through such initiatives.