The government has rolled out an ambitious initiative in a bid to mobilize the youth to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Elgeyo-Marakwet County for them to gain relevant skills to be self-reliant.

In the initiative, the Ministry of Interior has rolled out a series of grassroot forums involving chiefs and village elders in conjunction with TVET officials from the national office to mobilise the youths to join the institutions.

According to Keiyo North Deputy County Commissioner Julius Maiyo, TVETs play a crucial role in enabling the youths to land jobs which require technical skills in various government departments.

Maiyo said the youth who join TVET colleges will also be able to benefit from bursaries though the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

“We call on parents and their children to take advantage of this initiative for them to gain relevant skills which will help them boost their living standards in the future. If education is the key, TVET is the master key,” said the administrator.

Addressing the press in his office, Maiyo called on the youth to desist from overlying on white-collar jobs noting that TVETs have a lot of technical skills which can help them to be self-reliant.

According to the administrator, Kipsoen Technical Training Institute (TTI) in Keiyo North Constituency alone has over 46 technical courses which he described as very competitive and relevant to the current job market.

“We are also engaging career coaches who will be involved in guiding the students to choose relevant courses which will enable them to reap maximum returns immediately after clearing their education,” said Maiyo.

He cited some of the courses which he noted as most relevant at the moment as masonry, plumbing, electrical and welding which he noted are required in the ongoing government’s affordable housing programme which he said has employed thousands of youth countrywide.

“These skills are not only relevant to the local job market but overseas as well since the government has been negotiating on how Kenyans can work in those countries. We call on our youth to pursue such courses and register their companies so that they can do work with the government and even employ other people,” said the administrator.

“We are committed as a government in ensuring that we reduce unemployment and other social ills like drug abuse among our youth; that’s why we are coming up with initiatives tailor-made to ensure our youth are engaged in productive activities to improve their economic livelihoods and reduce poverty,” added Maiyo.