WOTE, MAKUENI COUNTY — The Makueni County Government marked the completion of a year-long mentorship program for 100 interns across various departments, aimed at equipping them with essential skills for the competitive job market.
According to Kenya News Agency, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and ICT, the initiative’s primary goal is to empower interns, enhancing their employability and personal development.
During a ceremony at the Centre for People with Disability (PWD) in Wote, Muli highlighted the success of the program’s sixth cohort, which commenced in March of the previous year. She pointed out the transformation the interns underwent, with more than ten securing employment elsewhere as a direct result of their participation in the program.
Muli detailed the comprehensive nature of the mentorship, which included rigorous sessions on crafting and compiling effective Curriculum Vitae (CVs), personal branding, and strategies for navigating job opportunities online. The CECM emphasized the importance of positioning oneself strategically in the job market, particularly through the use of internet resources where many job opportunities are posted.
Furthermore, Muli announced plans to recruit the next cohort of interns in April 2024, with the application process being fully digitalized to streamline and modernize the submission procedure. This move aims to enhance accessibility and efficiency for prospective applicants.
Education Chief Officer (CO) Irene Makau also addressed the outgoing interns, urging them to give back to their communities and be prepared to serve at the grassroots level. The mentorship program not only aims to foster professional growth among the interns but also instills a sense of civic responsibility and community service.
The graduation of these interns signifies a significant milestone for Makueni County in its efforts to support youth employment and skills development, reflecting a commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and professionals.
ELDORET, KENYA — The Kenyan government is set to launch a Livestock Breed Improvement Program, aimed at enhancing the quality of dairy products and increasing the income of dairy farmers, announced Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. Speaking at the 99th Edition of the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show in Eldoret, Linturi highlighted the initiative’s potential to revolutionize the livestock and dairy sectors.
According to Kenya News Agency, the program will encourage farmers to invest in better feed and care for their animals, which in turn will improve the quality of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and butter. The quality of these products, including attributes like fat content, will directly influence their pricing, offering farmers a tangible incentive to participate in the regime.
The Cabinet Secretary stressed the importance of value addition and processing within the dairy sector, suggesting that the new regime could significantly bolster farmers’ earnings by enabling them to produce a wider array of dairy products. “I really want to inform our farmers to get ready to embrace the new regime, because where we are going the price of milk will depend on how they breed their livestock, to give more butter from their milk and others,” Linturi remarked.
Additionally, Linturi acknowledged the positive response from farmers to the president’s call to return to farming as a means of ensuring national food security. He urged them to make the most of the upcoming March-April-May long rain season for optimal planting and to achieve a bumper harvest.
The Cabinet Secretary also reassured that the ministry is dedicated to supporting farmers, particularly in managing post-harvest losses. This includes the provision of driers to help farmers dry their cereals to the appropriate moisture content, ensuring safe and prolonged storage. These measures, coupled with timely access to fertilizers, are part of the government’s broader strategy to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability.