NANDI COUNTY SHOULD DO MORE TO EMPOWER YOUTH....... If Nandi County Governor Dr.Cleophas Lagat is to be believed,the future of our youth seems to be bright.According to national government,more young people will get lucrative government tenders following registration of 6,000 new companies,most of them belonging to the youth and that the new companies would be given preference.These youth groups will battle it out out with established firms.We have groups which have already benefited from tenders worth Sh6billion since the JUBILEE GOVERNMENT took power in 2013.President Uhuru Kenyatta has made it mandatory that atleast 30% of government tenders be allocated to the youth and marginalised groups.That is why as youngster we propose that policies that target the youth need to recognise the differences between the youths in towns and those in rural areas.Many poor youths in rural areas and urban slums struggle to meet the requirements for even starting a company.Others lack the skills,education and capacity to compete for lucrative contracts.Such young people risk being sidelined in favour of their more savvy counterparts from privileged backgrounds who can afford to fight for contracts with established companies using their political and economic connection.Kabwareng MCA HON.JACKSON KEDOGO SWADI administration has acknowledged that the youth are important segment of the population and that they require special attention.However,more needs to be done to empower young people from poor backgrounds.The Nandi County Government should set up business development centres in all locations to offer entrepreneural training to the youth.Also,schools should start career centres to help the young people develop the skills that are required in the market.Kabwarengs youthful population is hyped as being a dividend,to ensure that the youth and the society benefit,the county government should make a substantial investment,particularly in education.This should go beyond developing artisan skills to have highly skilled young people .
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 08:58:52 +0000