Over 70 graduates from Machugwa and Kitale Vocational Training Centers have received startup equipment worth Sh5 million to help them roll out income-generating ventures.

The initiative funded by the County Government of Trans-Nzoia and Child Rescue Kenya aims at empowering young people with technical skills for self-employment.

The equipment included sewing, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, hairdressing, and motor vehicle repairing tools.

Speaking during the event, the County Director of Education Eliud Lusweti said Trans Nzoia is committed to uplifting the lives of the youth through training.

“We want to ensure that as many youths as possible have acquired technical skills and that is the reason we are constructing many technical training centers across the county and equipping them. After graduating, we give them startup kits equipment to enable them to open their business and employ other youths,” he said.

While lauding the Kenya rescue center for donating the equipment, Lusweti revealed that since the inception of devolution, the County has constructed more than 30 vocational training centers across the county. Over 5000 youths have graduated from the centers.

He warned the beneficiaries against selling the donated equipment saying the tools must be used to generate income and create employment for other youths.

Child Rescue Kenya Programme Manager Stephen Barasa said the organization will continue offering scholarships to students in vocation training centers in the county as it seeks to increase the number of trained youths in the county.

He said the skills and the donated tools will assist them in creating employment.

“We have sponsored many of them by awarding them scholarships and today we have handed over equipment that will help them create employment. We have discovered that after graduating, many of them struggle to get employment owing to congestion in the job market. These tools will play a big role in reducing employment by creating opportunities for hundreds of youths in the county,” he said.

He said the organization shall, next year, increase the number of programs and beneficiaries, target areas being street children and youths from slums areas and Matisi vocational training center.

“We are planning to broaden our scope by increasing the number of programs and beneficiaries. Next year we are planning to give 132 graduates equipment as we want to see more youths earning a living,” he said.