Nairobi: Over 100 youth from Isiolo County are set to benefit from vocational training under the Wezesha Vijana TVET Mashinani Programme. The initiative, sponsored by the Safaricom Foundation in partnership with the County Government of Isiolo, aims to equip young people with practical skills to create jobs and improve their livelihoods. It targets unemployed youth, offering short-term technical courses in mobile phone repair, motorcycle mechanics, plumbing, and baking and pastry.
According to Kenya News Agency, the three-and-a-half-month training programme is designed to help participants become self-reliant and generate their own income. During the launch of the programme's second cohort at Kambi Turkana in Burat Ward, the Youth and Entrepreneurship Head at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Irene Wairimu, said that vulnerable youth-including persons with disabilities and young mothers-would gain hands-on vocational skills to help them secure dignified livelihoods.
Wairimu emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative, noting that it is the result of a strong partnership between CRS, Safaricom Foundation, Caritas Isiolo, the County Government of Isiolo, and several local training institutions. "TVET Mashinani is a community-based vocational training initiative that provides marketable skills to youth of both genders, including those with disabilities," she said.
Isiolo County Chief Officer for Vocational Training, Mr. Ibrahim Chala, said the programme is already transforming lives, with 115 participants currently enrolled. He said 35 youth are training in plumbing, 20 in motorcycle repair, 35 in mobile phone repair, and 25 in baking and pastry. Chala added that participants will receive certificates upon completion of the training. To support the programme's expansion, new facilities-including an administration block, welding offices, and electrical workshops-will soon be constructed.
Safaricom Foundation Programme Manager, Mr. Nicholas Wechuli, reiterated the foundation's commitment to supporting youth empowerment across the country, noting that the initiative is part of a broader youth-skilling programme targeting multiple counties. "When we started the TVET Mashinani Programme in 2023, we sponsored 333 youth across Isiolo, Marsabit, and Nairobi," said Wechuli. "This second cohort will train over 300 youth, and by the end of the project, we aim to have empowered at least 2,400 young people."
He encouraged the youth to embrace technical skills rather than focusing solely on white-collar jobs. "TVET courses are far better than chasing white-collar jobs. These are permanent skills that will never fade away-skills you can use anywhere to earn a living," he said. Wechuli added that trainees will receive certificates registered with the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), enabling them to seek jobs both locally and abroad.
Isiolo County Executive Committee Member for Tourism, Trade, and Cooperatives, Dr. Lawrence Mwongela, urged more young people to enroll in the programme, saying it provides a solid foundation for economic independence. "We urge the youth to join these programmes to gain skills that will help them generate income and shape their futures. As the County Government of Isiolo, we are fully committed to the success of this programme. Our department continues to support such initiatives because they uplift our community," said Dr. Mwongela.
With the launch of the Wezesha Vijana TVET Mashinani Programme, Isiolo County is taking a bold step toward tackling youth unemployment and promoting self-reliance. Through the partnership between Safaricom Foundation and the County Government, young people are gaining not just certificates but also lifelong skills to transform their futures and build a more skilled and empowered population.