New plan to empower Murang'a youth, save them from crime

**Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts CS Ababu Namwamba.** [File, Standard]

The government has launched a programme to hire 4,000 youth in Murang'a County who will be engaged in community service to keep them from crime by empowering them economically.

The youth will each be paid Sh400 per day before some of them are enrolled in polytechnics to acquire skills that will make them self-reliant, according to Youth Affairs and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

The CS, who spoke in Murang'a where he was hosted by area governor Irungu Kang'ata, said the programme will keep the young people from involving themselves in crime and alcoholism.

Namwamba said programme dubbed; "Murang’a Youth Service" aims to incubate 1,050 youth within three months before enrolling in polytechnics to acquire technical-related skills.

He said Murang’a is leading in nurturing the youth through effective engagements.

“I am impressed that Murang’a youth will acquire skills to participate in community work that involves cleaning the markets and later be allocated Sh15,000 as a startup kit after they complete their training at the polytechnics,” said the CS.

Kang’ata said parents of the youth selected will given Sh100 daily, and urged them to ensure their children report to work daily.

“We have recruited 30 youth from the 35 wards who will be engaged in the Murang’a Youth Service for three months before another cahoot is selected,” said the governor.

During the meeting, the MCAs lauded the initiative saying it will help the youth to flourish and save them from being idle in the villages.

Majority leader Francis Kibe said the programme was nurtured by the governor and backed by the county assembly based on supporting the youth.