Machakos governor presides over 2nd Machakos Youth Service pass-out

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti on Tuesday presided over the pass-out ceremony of the 2nd cohort of the Machakos Youth Service, marking a major milestone in the county’s youth empowerment agenda sponsored by the County Government.

The youth wearing the Service uniform and military boots the youths assembled at the governor's office ground where they mounted a colorful Guard of Honour inspected by Governor Ndeti.

The youths who have undergone rigorous training in physical exercise ,first aid ,discipline ,leadership and communication skills at the Boot camp marched and saluted in front of invited guests including their parents.

This year, the programme admitted 1,700 young people from all 40 wards, building on the success of the first cohort.

Following the pass-out, the youths will move to Vocational Training Centres for fully sponsored three-month skills training in areas such as Electrical & Electronics, Culinary Arts, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Plumbing, Masonry, Welding, Cosmetology, Fashion & Design, and Event Management & DJ.
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‎Governor Wavinya highlighted that youth empowerment in Machakos County is not a social project, but an economic strategy, anchored in the Machakos Youth Empowerment Act, 2024.

The county boss noted that the county is preparing its youth for the world, not just Kenya, and advised parents to guide their children calmly, uphold dialogue, and avoid dictatorship.
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‎The county currently has over 30,000 youth in Saccos and cooperatives, while many graduates from the first cohort are already starting businesses, joining the workforce, or earning in foreign countries.
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‎This year, over 1,200 youth are training in vocational skills, and 1,000 youth in motor driving, digital skills, and Boda Boda riding.
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‎Governor Wavinya encouraged the graduands to “stay hungry, stay digital, and represent the Machakos brand”, reminding them that their skills are a license to earn and create opportunities.

The youth will now acquire technical skills in various fields including Masonry, tailoring and dressmaking, plumbing, carpentry, electrical installation, catering, hairdressing and beauty therapy, welding, and motor vehicle mechanics.

The governor said the programme was aimed at equipping youth with skills to enable them earn a living.

“It pains me every time I see young people idling on the roadsides and outside shops from morning until evening because they lack a skill that can make them earn a living. My goal is to gradually end that culture by equipping as many young people with skills that can help them achieve their God-given dreams,” said Governor Wavinya.

The Governor said her administration is exploring the budgetary logistics of doubling up the number of recruits up from the current 1,000 in order to create more opportunities for the youth.

“We are going to invest more in the camp in order to make sure next time we can admit up to 2,000. Our goal is to change the lives of these young men and women some of whom had given up in life. Ours is to show them the right path by giving them the desired skills,” she said.

She praised the trainees for exhibiting endurance and discipline during the Boot camp and urged them to prepare to serve the world in different capacities.