Youth Fund in ambitious employment plan

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

KENYA: President Uhuru’s campaign promise to tackle youth unemployment is on track with plans to launch an initiative to help young people access finances to set to set up businesses.

The Biashara Kenya initiative will empower the youth and provide them with economic opportunities as well as help the country achieve a double-digit economic growth.

Apart from launching the initiative, Youth Enterprise Development Fund Board chairman Gor Semelango has outlined measures and structures that if implemented would create more employment opportunities for the young people in the next five years.

Recruiting talent

First Semelango has moved to remove bottlenecks that have hampered the transfer of funds from the banks to the youths. Initially, the money was sent to the banks where young people were borrowing.

It is this tedious and bureaucratic demands by the banks that has now seen the Youth Board to wire the money directly to the youths in the constituency.

And to effectively manage and loan the youths, at least two people, known as Constituency Enterprise Officers, have been identified in the 290 constituencies to help the youths fill in the forms and subsequent loaning of the money.

“Initially the Youth Fund was stashed in the banks, but now the money is given to the youths directly at the grass-roots level,” said Semelango.

The Standard on Sunday also learnt that a committee called Vijanaa Film Committee chaired by Bob Nyanja has been formed to spearhead production of films in the villages by recruiting talent.

This is in an attempt to increase local movie content after President Kenyatta’s directive that local TV content aired on local TV stations be increased from the current 40 per cent to 60 per cent.

Jua kali supermarket

Already the sector has been allocated Sh300 million to scout for the talented youths across the country to act.

“We want the youths to take acting as a career. We will increase local TV content if we have movies and films made locally,” said Semelango during an interview with The Standard on Sunday.

Youths with a passion in music have also been allocated Sh300 million. The money will be used to identify talent and record their music (both audio and video) for singers who are unable to do so because of exorbitant charges.

The board has also set aside Sh100 million to set up a Jua Kali supermarket where artisans would sell their products and create market linkages with trade partners both in East Africa Community and the Comesa region.

Semelango says youths would be facilitated to showcase their products during County Exhibitions and the winners will be given an opportunity to showcase their products at a National Youth Products Exhibition in Nairobi.

The institution that manages Sh8 billion revolving kitty to be lend to youth-led enterprises has already established business mapping opportunities and has acquired the ground floor of the Teleposta Towers building where youths will make applications and be linked to jobs outside the country.

 400,000 groups

Similar services will be found across the country in Posta offices.

However, signing of agreements and terms of work will be done through the Government and not individual agencies that have been raking in millions from unsuspecting job seekers.

To benefit from the funds, youths must form groups of not more than seven people and conduct meetings with clear objectives and minutes provided which the Constituency Enterprise Officers will inspect before the money is released.

The new scheme introduced by the board dubbed Vuka lending scheme will allow the borrowers to get between Sh50,000 and Sh400,000. In the event that the group proves to be effective in use of the cash, individuals can be allowed to borrow.

The board has also introduced loans and savings books for 400,000 groups formed countrywide.