Trans Nzoia Woman Representative Lilian Siyoi has called on the youth to take advantage of government-backed economic empowerment programmes instead of lamenting over limited formal job opportunities.
Speaking at Cheptikit in Matumbei Ward, Endebess Sub-County, Siyoi defended President William Ruto against criticism over unemployment, saying his administration has introduced multiple initiatives to cushion young people from joblessness.
“The youth population has increased significantly, forming a large proportion of the unemployed. However, the President has rolled out many opportunities to empower them,” she spoke during an inua Mama Wezesha Jamie Initiative.
The legislator stressed that the government cannot directly employ all young people but can create an enabling environment for businesses to flourish, indirectly generating jobs.
Among the programmes she highlighted is the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, a flagship Sh30 billion initiative targeting over 820,000 vulnerable and unemployed young Kenyans.
The project, co-funded by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank through a USD 229 million concessional credit, offers on-the-job training, entrepreneurship support, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification, and seed capital for start-ups.
Mrs Siyoi urged young artisans in the informal sector to register for RPL certification to improve their chances of securing employment and business opportunities both locally and abroad.
“We have to embrace these empowerment avenues. The future is for those who take initiative, not those who wait,” she concluded.