Nairobi — A total of 600 youth from Homa Bay County have graduated with Grade III certification from the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) under the KCB Foundation's 2Jiajiri Programme.
The vocational training, implemented in collaboration with the Homa Bay County Government, targeted youth from 19 different training centres across the region.
Backed by a Sh24 million investment, the programme equips young people with market-ready technical skills aimed at enhancing employability and promoting entrepreneurship.
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Among the graduates, 164 top-performing trainees were awarded business starter toolkits to help launch their self-employment journeys.
"MSMEs are the backbone of a thriving economy, making them a pathway toward creating decent and sustainable employment," said KCB Foundation Head of Programs Joblin Omari.
"Homa Bay County is home to a predominantly youthful population, with over half under the age of 30. By enabling access to dignified work, we not only improve livelihoods but also drive long-term socio-economic growth."
The 2Jiajiri programme provides a comprehensive skilling model that includes nine months of classroom instruction, three months of industrial attachment, and ongoing business development support.
Likewise, it connects graduates with access to affordable start-up capital to help them establish and scale their enterprises.
Nationwide, the programme has trained 35,618 youth and supported the creation of more than 150,000 jobs.
Additionally, 10,954 trainees are currently undergoing mentorship through KCB Foundation's Business Development Services (BDS) unit.
Thus far, the foundation has disbursed Sh267 million in youth enterprise loans, issued 2,225 start-up toolkits, and facilitated financial literacy training for 6,535 youth-led businesses.
