Over 1000 Kangemi youth trained on procurement, business opportunities

Lead trainer John Chomba with some of the youth who underwent the ETP training and received certificates. [Standard]

More than 1000 youth are the latest batch to benefit from a local entrepreneurial training programme led by a group of businessmen.

The trainees, drawn from Kangemi Ward in Westlands sub-county went through the Entrepreneurship Training Programme (ETP) where they were trained on how to take advantage of procurement business in both public and private sectors.

So far, about 3,000 youth have benefited from the programme, which is held in a rotational basis at least once a month in Nairobi's sub counties.

Lead trainer, John Chomba who doubles up as a founder member and chairman of the initiative implored the youth to focus on self-reliance though business instead of waiting for jobs from the government.

“Time has come for the youth to start asking for the fishing rod instead of always begging for fish. Procurement business is the answer because one can start off even with zero capital.”

Chomba who has been in the procurement business for more than 30 years said ETP works closely with the government through the directorate of youth affairs as well as Interior ministry through the provincial administration offices.

At the Kangemi event, the directorate of youth affairs was represented by its Nairobi County Regional Director, Emily Maina, who assured the trainees of full government support in their endeavour to access procurement opportunities.