The government spokesman, Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna has decried the low uptake by Bungoma youth of various government empowerment programmes that the government has rolled out to improve their economic standing.
Oguna said the government has rolled out many youth empowerment services in all counties across the county aimed at uplifting young people economically and socially.
These include the ajira digital programme, national internship programme, access to government procurement opportunities (AGPO), Youth Fund, Uwezo Fund (whose uptake in Bungoma is very low) and the KYEOP programme that the youths are expected to enroll and benefit from.
He said that through the ajira digital programme, youth with computer knowledge can access local and international jobs via internet and earn huge salaries just working on line.
He said that currently, Kenya has 1.25 million people working online with some earning as much as Sh 600,000 per month.
He said the youth comprise a very large segment of the population hence the reason the government is coming up with such opportunities and programmes that are tailor made to engage them profitably.
He said that through programmes like Uwezo, Youth fund and KYEOP, the government supports the youth with capital and technical skills to create their own businesses and expand existing ones.
He added that when youth are empowered, they gain courage, feel confident and become active contributors and collaborators, eager to impact the world around them.
He said that all these varied youth empowerment programs are aimed at creating high qualities of life for youth who are underprivileged or at-risk.
Oguna asked the youth to take advantage of these start programmes to create their own businesses and contribute to their own growth and economic well-being of the country.
He was speaking to the youth in Bungoma on Thursday at the Salvation Army Church while on a working tour of Western region Counties.
He called on the youth to desist from the culture of handouts that has made them lazy and impoverished and instead learn to work hard to earn a decent living.
He called on the youth to maintain peace ahead of, during and after elections and to choose wisely by closely analyzing the ability of the leaders on offer and their capacity to serve the country selflessly.
Oguna urged youths who are on the Kazi Mtaani programme to maintain peace and spread peace messages as they go about the work.
Oguna also asked journalists to apply for rolled out Fund to open businesses that will create job opportunities for others and not just rely on reporting.
The Government spokesperson later inspected the Sh 68 million ongoing construction of 50 self-contained housing units for Bungoma police and prison officers at the Bungoma police headquarters as part of the government progressive reforms in the country’s security sector
He lauded the government for setting aside funds to improve living conditions for police officers who have in the past lived in very deplorable conditions and added that this will improve their performance a great deal.
The units according to the contractor Mark Wambua are at 95 per cent and expected to be completed on June 30 for commissioning in July.
Bungoma County Commissioner Samwel Kimiti was present.
