Murang'a: At least 700 young people graduated from the Murang'a Youth Service (MYS) programme in a ceremony that highlighted the county's investment in youth employment, vocational training, and entrepreneurship. The graduation of the sixth MYS cohort, presided over by Murang'a Governor, Irungu Kang'ata, saw 773 youths complete the programme, with over 30 percent attaining first-class performance.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kang'ata noted that the programme has benefited 8,400 youths since its inception, with plans to train at least 10,000 by the end of the year. The event, attended by Deputy Governor Stephen Munania, local MCAs, parents, trainers, and community leaders, celebrated graduates who have spent months participating in public service activities while also undergoing technical training.
Under the Murang'a Youth Service programme, young people are recruited through a public balloting process and assigned duties such as town cleaning, environmental conservation, and other community service activities across the county. During the programme, each participant earns a daily wage of Sh.400 before proceeding to Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) to acquire practical skills.
Kang'ata said the initiative was helping young people gain financial independence while preparing them for future employment and business opportunities. He encouraged the graduates to continue with their education and take advantage of upcoming employment opportunities expected from industries being established at the Murang'a Industrial Park.
The governor also called on the national government to fast-track infrastructure development at the industrial park located in Makenji area, saying the project would play a major role in opening up economic opportunities for local youth. To support entrepreneurship among the graduates, the county government issued Sh.15,000 startup capital to each beneficiary, amounting to a total of Sh.15 million disbursed during the ceremony.
The graduates who will embark on investing in businesses will also enjoy a one-year tax holiday aimed at helping them establish and stabilize their investments. Kang'ata said the county was deliberately focusing on youth empowerment as part of a broader strategy to reduce unemployment and poverty.
Beyond the youth programme, the governor highlighted ongoing investments in education, noting that the county has built and renovated more than 600 ECDE centres and provided bursaries to over 50,000 students. Deputy Governor Munania described the programme as a successful model of community transformation, saying it had not only improved cleanliness in urban centres but also instilled discipline, responsibility, and a strong work ethic among participants.
The county administration reaffirmed its commitment to expanding youth programmes through vocational training, innovation, and enterprise support to help tackle unemployment and strengthen economic growth in the region.