Gideon advises youth to acquire technical skills

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi (centre) with residents after a church service at Kapsoo African Inland Church in Baringo County. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard]

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has urged the youth to join technical institutions to acquire skills that will enable them create jobs.

Speaking at Kapsoo African Inland Church where he attended a church service yesterday, Gideon said there is need to empower young people, through training in technical institutions, as this will enable them work and afford a decent living.

He noted that technical and vocational education constitutes any form of education, training and learning -leading to the acquisition of practical knowledge, understanding and skills relevant for gainful economic engagement, both formal and informal.

Skilled youth

“Crafts, artisans, masonry and plumbers are fields that have been ignored by many youths and yet very important in creating jobs,” the senator said.

The Kanu national chairman noted that youths who acquire technical skills are better placed to create jobs for themselves and also become competitive in the job market.

Gideon, who was accompanied by Baringo Woman Representative Gladwell Cheruiyot, said it was difficult to get youths with skills during the launch of the Standard Gauge Railway.

“We need to empower our youths in technical jobs, vacancies calling for youths with skills in various technical fields have been advertised and it is becoming difficult to get youths trained in a particular field,” Gideon said.

Technical education, he noted, is key in addressing unemployment.

The senator called on the community to support Baringo Technical College and to enrol their children at the institution to enable them acquire life skills and professional qualifications.

With skills and qualifications, those trained, he said, will access profitable employment or even venture into self-employment.

He noted that as the Government pushes forward industrialisation, through the Big Four agenda, skills acquired in technical and polytechnics will play a bigger role.

He said the technical college in Baringo will be elevated to a technical university and expanded to accommodate more students.

“When such institutions are constructed and taken care of, our children will have access to the necessary knowledge and skills to drive the economy of our country,” he said.

The Baringo woman rep drummed up support for the senator in the 2022 presidential election.

Ms Cheruiyot called on the locals to support their own and not to be deceived. She also called on the people to pray for the senator.

According to her, the community has no one other than Gideon, saying that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

“Let’s take care of our own, let’s not be told to slaughter our own that we may be supplied with milk. Who is sure that the milk will even reach us,” she cautioned.