KCB Foundation Managing Director Jane Mwangi (left) taken through the usage of construction kits by KCB Foundation 2jiajiri programme beneficiaries during the construction toolkits handover ceremony at Kencom.
By Jerry Abuga
KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme in partnership with GIZ’s E4D/SOGA-Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa programme is implementing a project aimed at increasing employability and income generation for 4,000 youth in the informal agribusiness and construction sectors in Kenya.
The KCB Foundation in partnership with the German International Development Agency (GIZ) has provided construction equipment worth KES.20 million to 580 youth in Nairobi.
KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme in partnership with GIZ’s E4D/SOGA-Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa programme is implementing a project aimed at increasing employability and income generation for 4,000 youth in the informal agribusiness and construction sectors in Kenya.
The roll out is part of a larger partnership between the two organisations that is set to increase the employability and income generation for Kenyan youth.
Of these, 2,897 will be supported in the construction sector in a two-pronged approach, where an estimated 1,738 will secure employment in housing construction projects in selected counties, while 580 will establish their businesses in the construction sector.
The first batch of beneficiaries received their toolkits in Nairobi on Friday, 5th July 2018.
Speaking at the event, KCB Foundation Managing Director Jane Mwangi said: “We are proud of this partnership with GIZ as it is an avenue for us to continue skilling the youth in this country, enabling them to create their own jobs and help reduce the unemployment menace in the country.”
“At KCB Foundation, we remain committed to empowering and equipping the youth to grow microenterprises by providing them with technical skill training opportunities as well as up-skilling and certifying existing micro-entrepreneurs who wish to move their business from the informal to the formal sector.” added Ms Mwangi.
The Programme Director for Sustainable Economic Development and E4D/SOGA Kenya Aregash Asfaw noted that the event cements a milestone in their agenda to empower 4,000 youth.
“Our aim is to support sectors with high employment potential to promote sustainable economic growth in the country,” said Ms Asfaw.
KCB Foundation Managing Director Jane Mwangi (right) with GIZ Technical advisor Eddy Oloo hand over an electrical toolkit to Sammy Ntooki, one of the 2jiajiri programme beneficiaries, during a handover ceremony of toolkits at Kencom.
The starter toolkits provided by GIZ are trade-specific for roofing, masonry, tile laying, carpentry, plumbing, welding, electrical installation and assorted hand tools and safety items.
The beneficiaries were trained over a period of six months; three months in classroom where they underwent theory-practice and three months in the industry, where they received hands-on experience in the construction sector.
Since its launch, 2jiajiri has skilled over 25,000 youth beneficiaries on technical skills and financial literacy across the country. Out of these, 5,725 have benefitted under the Building and Construction pillar.
