Pillar VII: Opportunities And Talent Development For Young People
The County Government of Laikipia has consistently maintained good progress in fulfilling the promises made to the people during the 2017 General Election.
Governor Ndiritu Muriithi's election manifesto was anchored on 12 pillars that included:
- Proper Governance and Accountability,
- Job Creation: 30,000 Jobs,
- Farming Becomes a profitable business,
- Access to clean and Reliable water,
- Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care,
- Employable youths and Enterpreneurship,
- Opportunities and Talent Development for young people,
- Protection of Life and Property,
- Light-up of homes and Markets,
- Upgrade of roads and Building bridges,
- Develop Smart and Green Towns, and
- Destination Laikipia
In our sixth installment of 'From Political promises to Action,' we are focusing on Pillar number Seven.
(vii) Opportunities and Talent Development for young people
The Government has created opportunities for the youth to develop their talent and expand their opportunities. It has 200 business development to help the youth and other entrepreneurs to develop their businesses.
The Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise Development Programme is handholding over 500 enterprises, guiding them to upscale their production.
The majority of these entrepreneurs are within the youth bracket. The Government has also partnered with various banks to initiate a stimulus fund to revive business following the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At least 237 groups and 163 individuals have benefited from enterprise funds.
In Rumuruti, the government has established an IT hub to facilitate the youth in their research works and online jobs.
In the sporting activities, the government has ensured that the youth, through the leased equipment program, it has been improving sports grounds across the County. Wiyumiririe Primary and Il-Polei Sports Ground were the first beneficiaries.
Nanyuki hosted the 2019 Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament. Laikipia teams qualified for the national finals and Janet Njeri was picked to play for the Harambee Starlets.
Late last year as Nanyuki was celebrating its anniversary, the government organized skating and cycling events as part of developing youthful talents.
Skating is now taking shape even in Kinamba and Sipili towns because of improved infrastructure. Early this year, the Government-sponsored some athletes to Nakuru for the Regional South Rift Championships in partnership with the Athletic Kenya Branch.
Further, the Department of Education and Sports assisted in payment of participation for the top four football teams from Laikipia to play in FKF league Division 2, Eastern Zone. The teams are Nanyuki Youth, Lysa Sports FC, Griffons Nyahururu, and Nyahururu All Stars.
In partnership with Football Kenya Federation, FKF Laikipia County sent four referees for a two days of training in Nakuru County on April 2019.
(Source: CGL E-Newsletter Issue 0048).
