With over a million young people entering the labour market annually at a time when unemployment continues to rise, youngsters have been urged to form clusters to benefit from social-economic empowerment.

Kiambu Deputy Governor Rosemary Kirika regretted that due to joblessness, most youths end up engaging in anti-social behaviours including drug and alcohol abuse, and violent extremism.

While noting that the youth are an essential component of development and a key driver in the realisation of the nation’s socioeconomic ambitions, Kirika called on the youth to form self-help groups that will enable them to attract funding to venture into income-generating activities.

She spoke to journalists at Gakui village in Gatundu North constituency during the graduation ceremony for youths trained in talent development, life skills, mental health, entrepreneurship and talent identification courtesy of her Rose Kirika Foundation.

She said youngsters under the programme will be engaged to have productive opportunities to reach their full potential.

Create opportunities

“We will walk this journey with the youth and we continue to beseech them to align their lives with what makes their tomorrow and not what will break them. Even as the government continues to create opportunities, the youth need to pursue other beneficial opportunities in farming, and digital jobs among other areas,” said the deputy governor.

The deputy governor at the same time urged the youths to align themselves with beneficial opportunities such as the Uwezo Fund in a bid to get financial grants to grow their own businesses rather than get consumed in vices such as religious extremism, drug abuse and crime.

A section of the youth who benefited in the programme led by Peter Kuria Mutonga called for their inclusivity in the government decision-making processes to have their voices heard.

“We have been trained and have the requisite skills but we do not get the required opportunities to propel us to the next level. We end up being desperate for anything after tarmacking trying to put our lives together,” said Kuria.

Youth challenges

They cited unemployment, lack of gainful employment opportunities, poor social services, drug abuse and depression as key challenges affecting Kenyan youth and called for solutions to youth challenges such as the creation of job opportunities through infrastructural projects for posterity.

They at the same time appealed to the local governments to consider lessening the number of licensed bars to reduce alcohol accessibility to facilitate soberness among the youth.