Mombasa Youth Receive Toolkit To Kick-start Self-employment

Sixty- two trainees from the Coast Region have today received construction toolkits to enable them to establish their individual and group-based microenterprises in the building and construction sectors.

The beneficiaries have successfully completed training at the Mombasa National Polytechnic under KCB Foundation’s flagship youth empowerment program, 2jiajiri.

The tools are part of the 20 million shillings toolkits procured by KCB Foundation in partnership with the German International Development Agency (GIZ) for 580 beneficiaries under GIZ’s E4D/SOGA (Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa) program.

The 2jiajiri program aims to transform job seekers into employers, by helping them realize their potential as business owners, thus generating sustainable employment opportunities for themselves.

With 2jiajiri the youth go through technical and vocational training in informal sectors which are building and construction, automotive maintenance and repair, beauty and personal care, domestic services, and agribusiness.

Speaking during the construction toolkit handover held at the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, KCB Foundation Managing Director Jane Mwangi said the youth should be empowered through capital financing and business development training.

“In conjunction with GIZ, we have handed over more than 300 toolkits to youth in different counties since inception bringing us closer to our goal of equipping 580 youth by November,” said Ms. Mwangi.

“The construction beneficiaries are now well placed to access contracts from the private sector and national and county governments as they have fully registered their businesses”.

Mombasa County Governor Hassan Ali Joho appreciated what KCB Foundation in partnership with GIZ was doing in Mombasa and invited further talks on what could be done for the youth in his county.

“I thank KCB Foundation for this important initiative as it is transformative and fits into the current job demand and going forward we should design similar future programs together that will create more opportunities for the youth,” he said.