KAKAMEGA YOUTHS URGED TO BE INNOVATIVE
Youths in Kakamega County have been encouraged to be innovative and leverage on the County Government sponsored initiatives and programmes to build their enterprises.
Through the CECM for Social Services, Sports, Youth, Gender and Culture Mr Mophat Mandela, Kakamega Governor H.E FCPA Fernandes Barasa expressed his Administration’s dedication to empower young people by facilitating critical platforms for them to identify and nurture their talents and develop their skills under the Social Development Agenda of his Manifesto.
The Governor’s speech as read by the CECM during the Kakamega County Chapter of ‘Plug Mtaani 2invest’ program at the Chambers Hall, County Headquarters on Thursday; highlighted that the County has allocated sufficient funds through the Department of ICT to Digitize government services by establishing ICT hubs at the grassroots to provide young innovators with a platform to enhance creativity and grow their skills.
The County Government has allocated Ksh 113 Million this Financial Year through the County Microfinance Agency for special interest groups including the youths to access low interest loans to boost their business ventures. The ongoing Governor’s Cup tournament that saw over 1000 teams register for participation in all the disciplines is also a key initiative that the County has embraced to harness potential of the young people.
On his part, Mr Mandela asserted that Kakamega County is embracing creativity and announced to talented youths to register for the County Music Festivals at their Ward Offices, a platform for artists, poets, dancers and elecutionists among others to showcase their talents and skills.
The Plug Mtaani program is an initiative of the National Government under the Ministry of Youths Affairs, Sports and Arts to capacity build youth and link them to financial opportunities. The winner of the initiative will receive Ksh 10 Million.
The program’s National Coordinator Mr Geoffrey Kilonzo revealed that Kakamega County has the largest number of youth groups in the entire country and explained that the Plug Mtaani program seeks to leverage on the young people’s skills to rid them from suicidal thoughts, criminal activities and drug addiction.
Present was the CECM for Finance, Budget, Economic Planning, ICT and E-government CPA Livingstone Imbayi, County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr Lawrence Omuhaka, Chief Officer for Sports, Youth and Library Services Mr Joseph Abucheri,
Also in attendance was CBEF Secretary Rev. William Ouya who is also the National Chairperson of the Hoteliers and Tourism Association, Youth Advisor Mr Emmanuel Makokha and CEOs: Ms Elizabeth Asichi (KCIDA) and Charles Oranga (Microfinance Agency) among others.