The United States Department of Labor through the International Labor Organization has funded the Better Utilization of Skills for Youth (BUSY) through quality apprenticeships in Kenya.
Busia joins Kilifi and Kitui counties which have benefitted from the BUSY project.
The projects aim is increasing decent job opportunities, creating employment for young people thereby addressing unemployment, vulnerability and poverty in urban and rural settings.
The project’s other objective is to improve the capacity of Kenyan Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and civil society organizations to establish and expand workplace-based training programs with a focus on vulnerable and marginalized youth.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said the County Government is committed to establishing a Youth Work Place Learning Secretariat (YWLS) to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
In a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi during the social dialogue meeting at Rastopark Hotel on Thursday, the Governor said the secretariat will implement action plans developed by the already established Workplace Based Training County Committee (WBTCC).
“ The Secretariat will be charged with developing laws and policies to support quality workplace based training for youths and the vulnerable in the county, create awareness of the project, mobilization of resources among workers and employers to support work based training, create market opportunities for the products and other roles that are in line with the project goal,” he said.
Governor Ojaamong also said that the Secretariat will be coordinated from his office and will be expected to deliver on its mandate and ensure the project’s sustainability even after the exit of the ILO and other partners.
BUSY Project Director Aggrey Ndombi thanked the Governor for a well thought plan of establishing a youth workplace learning Secretariat, adding that ILO will back the county’s initiatives.
Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi called for fast tracking of apprenticeship programs considering that white collar jobs are scarce owing to rapid population growth.
Mulomi challenged leaders to create opportunities for the youth in the county by investing back at home in projects that can benefit them.
Acting Culture, Youth and Sports Executive John Mwami said the department is empowering the youth by funding them to take Vocational Training courses.