Some 150 beneficiaries of KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri programme graduated with diplomas and certificates today from Mawego TTI in Homa Bay County. This was the school’s 5th graduation ceremony that saw 2,000 trainees receive the ‘powers to read’.
This year’s graduates are the second cohort, sponsored through KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme, to graduate under the partnership between KCB Foundation and Mawego TTI. The two entities partnered in 2021 – intending to formalize the informal sector through upskilling of artisans.
Among the 150 trainees, 108 were trained in construction courses (e.g., electrical, masonry, plumbing and welding) while 42 were trained in domestic services (e.g. bakery). Twenty-two received construction toolkits to start individual and group-owned enterprises.
In her speech, Head of KCB Foundation Caroline Wanjeri said: “Over the past seven years, KCB Group – through the Foundation – has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable development through empowering communities, slaying unemployment and providing humanitarian support in Kenya and beyond.”
“We are most proud of the 2Jiajiri programme through which we provide vocational and technical training and business development support to the youth across the region. 2Jiajiri was launched in 2016 to create 250,000 jobs over five years by developing the blue-collar jobs economy; making it more appealing to the youth population. Since its launch, we have so far created 64,186 direct jobs and 385,008 indirect jobs cumulatively,” she added.
The ceremony was graced by Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Gladys Wanga, Governor Homa Bay County, and other government officials and stakeholders in vocational and technical education. The Education CS reiterated the importance of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) centres, especially in absorbing the high number of KCSE graduates who do not get the opportunity to join universities.
“I am excited that the youth and society at large are slowly but steadily overcoming the erring belief that white-collar jobs are better than blue-collar jobs. We must continue to embrace the blue-collar economy to accelerate the industrialization and socio-economic development of our country,” he said.
“I want to congratulate KCB Foundation for the 2Jiajiri programme that is empowering our youth and helping alleviate youth unemployment across the country. This is an exemplary programme of how the private sector can create shared value to complement and collaborate with government efforts on key issues such as education. As a ministry, we are committed to advancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Stem) programs through TVETs as we aim to soon start exporting skilled labour in these areas to Germany and other European countries,” the CS added.
Hon. Gladys Wanga reiterated the CS’s remarks adding that the County Government of Homa Bay will partner with KCB Foundation and other stakeholders to bolster programmes such as 2Jiajiri that seek to empower and elevate the youth economically.
