By Betty Luke
Some 150 youth have graduated with various courses under the Ujuzi Manyattani vocational training program offered by the Northern Rangelands Trust in partnership with Kiirua Technical Training Institute and Laikipia North Technical and Vocational College.
The program seeks to provide access to learning for people from disadvantaged regions and those unable to access formal education so that they are equipped with marketable and practical skills to enable them to start their own businesses and be self-reliant.
The young people, most of them Samburu Morans, graduated after completing short-term courses in carpentry, mobile and motorcycle mechanics, masonry, solar installation and electrical engineering among others.
The graduation ceremony was graced by Vocational and Technical Training PS Margaret Mwakima and her East African Community counterpart Kevit Desai at Kalama Wildlife Community Conservancy in Samburu East on Friday.
Of the 214 youths who have enrolled for various courses since 2019, 209 have graduated with 500 currently on session across the community conservancies.
NRT CEO Tom Lalampaa said more than 350 mobile trainers will be enrolled before the end of 2021 and that 5000 youths are targeted by 2025.
NRT boss Tom Lalampaa and Vocational Training PS Margaret Mwakima address journalists during the graduation ceremony. PHOTO/PRESS POINT
The courses have been increased from the initial five to 12 introducing among others hairdressing, tailoring and catering to attract more people and especially women who are slowly taking up the courses.
Mr Lalampaa said the program, undertaken through the NRT-Trading enterprise arm, offers Morans and young women an alternative opportunity to diversify their livelihood and mitigate perennial conflict cycles.
“We are committed to helping youth engage in productive activities through Ujuzi Manyattani and offering of internship and employment opportunities,” he said during the event.
Dr Mwakima said vocational training was the easiest way to address unemployment and poverty that forces young people into crimes such as highway banditry and cattle rustling.
“It is only through education and skills development to the youths (Morans) that we shall bring to end cases of cattle rustling,” the PS said while asking the graduates to put the skills into practice by starting own businesses.
East African Community PS Kevit Desai (L) and Vocational Training counterpart Margaret Mwakima and Isiolo Deputy Governor Abdi Issa (R) and Laikipia colleague John Mwaniki being shown how to lay bricks during construction by some of the masonry trainees at NRT training centre in Ngaremara. PHOTO/PRESS POINT
NRT-Trading supports graduating trainees with start-up tools kits, mentorship programs and links them to opportunities in the job world.
Among the graduates was Lekumoisa Fred, Ambrose Learao, Anastacia Lekiluai, Amuron Rebeca, Abdimalik Baicha and Simon Leparmarai.
“I am so happy that I have finally graduated. I have been offering mobile and fixed motorcycle repair services at Lengusaka market. I would probably be grazing cows now but the skills have enabled them to get income and even marry,” says 25-year-old Leparmarai, a Class eight leaver.
While appealing to youth to enroll for various programs at Vocational and Technical colleges, Dr Mwakima said the institutions continued to offer hope to Kenyans with minimal formal education and who did not manage to go to Secondary and tertiary institutions.
Some of the start up tools that the graduates received during the graduation ceremony. PHOTO/PRESS POINT
In attendance was Nominated Senator Abshiro Halake, Deputy Governors Abdi Issa (Isiolo), Jacob Chepkwony (Baringo), Julius Leseeto (Samburu) and Laikipia’s John Mwaniki who hailed the initiative saying it assisted to deal with insecurity menace in the region.
“By offering an alternative source of livelihood, the program will help address the insecurity challenge that has adversely affected development in the region,” said Mr Mwaniki.
Dr Issa called for expansion of the program to other areas citing Bulapesa ward as among the neediest areas that would largely benefit if granted the opportunity.
