Uhuru, German counterpart launch Sh4b youth initiative
By Clement Kamau and PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier yesterday launched of a 39.4 million Euro (Sh4.33 billion) youth empowerment vocational training programme.
The programme seeks to equip the youth with skills to enable them to contribute effectively to the country’s development.
Speaking at Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Uhuru termed the launch as a big boost to the country’s quest to empower its youth with technical know-how needed to grow the country’s economy.
“Today, our quest to foster skills development in Kenya once again gains greater momentum, as we unveil the partnership between the Government of Kenya and the Federal Republic of Germany,” Uhuru said.
First phase
The programme will be implemented in two phases with the first phase costing 26.4 million Euros (Sh2.9 billion) where the German government will provide 25 million Euros (Sh2.75 billion) while Kenya will contribute 1.4 million Euros (Sh154 million). The second phase will be worth 13 million Euros (Sh1.4 billion).
The President said the targeted institutions in the first phase of the programme include Thika Technical Training Institute, Nairobi Technical Training Institute and Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology which are expected to benefit in the areas of automotive engineering, body building and welding as well as industrial mechatronics
Kitale National Polytechnic, Bumbe Technical Training Institute, Ekerubo Gietai and Ramogi Institute of Applied Science will be beneficiaries of the second phase that will cover building and civil works, energy and ICT subject areas.
Uhuru and Steinmeier also laid the foundation stone for a centre of excellence in the training of industrial mechatronics at KIST.
Uhuru thanked Germany for supporting Kenya in its efforts to improve the technical and vocational training in the country.
“This occasion is a symbol of the great collaboration between our two countries. Through your government, the youth who form the majority of our population, will be better equipped with relevant skills necessary to help them play a big role in national development,” he said.
President Steinmeier said the laying of the foundation stone symbolises the beginning of a new a robust partnership between Kenya and Germany.
“This partnership aims at jointly tackling one of the greatest challenges Kenya is facing today, creating gainful employment for young people,” he said.
Other speakers included Deputy President Dr William Ruto and Education Cabinet secretary Prof George Magoha.
Ruto said Kenya is proud that under Uhuru’s leadership enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions has increased by 300 hundred per cent in a span of seven years.
“This is no mean achievement both in terms of development of infrastructure and also in student numbers,” he said.
