Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alongside Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) have today launched the Kenya Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (K-YEEAP) aimed at solving unemployment amongst the youth and curb the current drought situation in the country.
Gachagua in the company of East African Community (EAC), ASALs and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and her counterpart Ababu Namwamba CS Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts said the government is committed to being part of the scheme so as to ensure an equitable and inclusive society.
He insisted that the partnerships between the government and the private sector are meant to be key determinants in delivering jobs and opportunities to the youths in the country.
“I want to invite the private sector to partner with us. The situation we are in needs resources. All the key players in the food distribution should be transparent. I call upon and urge the private sector to come together to contribute to this cause,” Gachagua asserted.
Gachagua also presided over the Private Sector Call to Action by KEPSA on the ongoing drought in the country as its response presented the government with over Sh283, 460, 000 raised to help the drought stricken areas prompting him to pledge to salvage the situation.
“I also urge the county governments to waive cess fees for food in transit to drought stricken counties as part of their contribution to mitigating the current drought. The situation is dire, the sight of dead livestock is not pretty, children are leaving school and Kenyans are becoming helpless. Let’s come together in this concerted effort to ensure that no Kenyan dies of hunger while we can help,” Gachagua observed.
Miano said that measures to curb the current drought situation in the country are underway.
“Currently, 45 wards in 9 additional counties are affected by drought. The ASAL counties are increasing. We hope to have measures and solutions to mitigate this situation,” Miano stated.
The DP said that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are key in achieving the promises of President William Ruto’s administration and reiterated that the new programme would also offer direct employment to a number of youths who will be absorbed into the service.
Gachagua alluded that the plan is aimed at equipping the country’s youth with skills which are necessary in addressing unemployment in the country by making them employable.
The programme is set to offer Kenyans under the age of 35 years training in the areas of business and finances.
It will also leverage on Technology and Digital Transformation which will enable Youths to be active participants in the Global Digital Revolution.
Gachagua conferred with the idea and proposed the programme be partnered with the TVET institutions to play an important role in bridging the gap between training and industry in the country.
Namwamba said the partnership is aimed at addressing youth and unemployment in the country with the partnership key in achieving the targets of government plans.
“The Kenyan youths have become disillusioned and losing hope due to unemployment. The Ministry hence welcomes KEPSA’s launch of the Kenya Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Accelerator. We will work together to uplift and empower our young people,” said Namwamba.
According to Gachagua, youth unemployment in the country is alarming and is estimated at 38.9 percent with an estimated 800,000 young people getting into the labour market every year from academic institutions.
