Vihiga: Youths from Vihiga County have urged the government to allocate more funds towards youth projects in the 2026/2027 financial year budget. The youth voiced their request on Thursday during a round table meeting with Vihiga County executive members for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Dr. Julius Maruja, Gender, Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Ruth Agesa, and Moffat Nabangi, Director at Commerce, Tourism and Cooperatives, who was representing the CEM Joseph Lunani.

According to Kenya News Agency, the meeting was convened by Siaya County Youth Network in collaboration with GIZ, which is working with youths in five counties including Siaya, Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, and Vihiga in the Agri-food sector. Project Officer, Youth Leadership Training Project, Siaya County Youth Network, Dina Awuor, stated that the purpose of the meeting was for the youth to present the county Fiscal Strategy paper to the county executive members, so they can discuss and adopt some issues to be factored in the 2026/2027 budget.

Awuor called on members of the County Assembly to prioritize youth projects and allocate them more funds once the Fiscal Strategy paper is submitted to them on February 28, 2026. She urged the youths to be agents of positive change and influence wherever they are. On matters of employment, she asked the youth to get into Agribusiness instead of complaining, noting that purposeful agribusiness was good self-employment.

One of the youth leaders, Paul Kuya, emphasized the need for Vihiga County to establish a youth policy to guide their operations and amplify their voice, expressing regret that the youth policy has taken too long to be passed. Jefreys Gidayi, another youth, called on the county government to provide feedback after public participation forums, as this would guide them on the next steps to take.

The youths requested the government to allocate part of the youth training budget towards direct agribusiness grants for already trained youth and youth groups, and to support the Youth Agribusiness Coordinating Unit (YACU). They urged the county government to support 150 youth fish farmers equitably distributed across high fish production wards with coolers. Additionally, they expressed a desire for 750 youth dairy cow farmers and 50 youth dairy goat farmers to receive financial support and relevant training, and for 500 youths to be trained and supported in the avocado value chain by being provided with quality seeds.