Nakuru: Nakuru County has taken a significant step towards youth empowerment by partnering with Daraja 360 and other like-minded organizations to provide platforms for young people to find their career direction and strengthen their sense of identity in society. The County Government, in collaboration with Daraja 360, is equipping community members with tailoring and entrepreneurship skills that will promote sustainable economic empowerment. The initiative was showcased during a Form Four leavers’ camp held at Pilgrims Gateway in Mosop Ward, Rongai Sub-County.
According to Kenya News Agency, despite the youthful population being a vital asset for the county’s economic growth, unemployment remains a pressing issue that hinders their meaningful contribution to the economic growth. Estimates indicate that the county’s youth unemployment rate stands at around 36%, slightly below the national average of 39%.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Youth, Sports, Gender, and Inclusivity Josephine Achieng emphasized the importance of equipping young people with practical skills that create economic opportunities and foster personal growth. ‘Young people are vulnerable to addiction, identity crises and abusive relationships. We must empower them with the right skills and opportunities to secure their future,’ said Ms Achieng.
Director of Daraja 360 Regina Kamoche echoed the CECM’s sentiments, emphasizing the role of skills training in combating unemployment. Daraja 360, a community-based organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable families, youths, and children, operates a textile hub in collaboration with the County Government. The facility, equipped with 54 machines, provides training in sewing, entrepreneurship, and digital proficiency while producing high-quality corporate and school uniforms.
‘We believe in empowering young people with skills that can help them break the cycle of unemployment. Our textile hub and training programmes provide practical solutions for sustainable livelihoods,’ she said. In November 2024, the county government and Daraja 360 conducted interviews for the third cohort of the Textile Hub Programme at the Nakuru County Empowerment Centre in Bondeni Estate.
The programme targets individuals who did not attain Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) level of education and offers training in hand stitching, electronic sewing machine operation, cutting and fitting, pattern drafting, and branding workshop practices. The struggle for economic independence is a reality for many young people in Nakuru. With limited formal employment opportunities, many youths are turning to self-employment and vocational training to secure their livelihoods.
To address these challenges, Nakuru County has launched the Nakuru Youth Empowerment Programme, encouraging young people to explore agribusiness, self-employment, and vocational training. The initiative tackles obstacles such as negative perceptions of informal jobs and limited access to financial services. Over 200 youth groups have already benefited from the distribution of work tools and equipment, including car wash machines, motorcycles, shaving kits, hair blow dryers, and fishing nets.
Youth unemployment is not just a county issue but a national and continental concern. Across Africa, young people are increasingly demanding better economic opportunities, with recent youth-led protests highlighting frustrations over governance and economic hardships. Through skills training and self-employment initiatives, Nakuru County is leading the way in youth empowerment, ensuring its young people build sustainable livelihoods and independent futures.