Youth

In June 2024, Keli Kithome (24 years) a resident of Ivingoni/Nzambani ward graduated from Wote Technical Training Institute with a certificate in plumbing.

Like many young graduates, Keli initially struggled to find meaningful work, resorting to menial jobs to make ends meet. However, his fortunes changed when he became a beneficiary of Ujuzi Teke Teke, a hands-on skills training and tooling program initiated by the Government of Makueni County.

Through this transformative initiative, Keli received a complete set of plumbing tools, enabling him to establish his own plumbing consultancy business.

Keli’s story mirrors that of other 75 young beneficiaries from across the county who have received tools of trade in various vocational fields. The initiative represents a concrete effort by the Government of Makueni County under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s leadership to address youth unemployment by equipping young people with both skills and the necessary tools to kickstart their entrepreneurial journeys.

The tools distribution exercise in Ivingoni/Nzambani and Nguu/Masumba wards was officiated by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, accompanied by Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, the County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services and Nguu MCA Daniel Musau.

45 graduates of the makueni county driving course from Tulimani ward have today received their licenses after successfully completing the minimum one-month training.

The 45 represent the first batch of 176 who have been trained or are undergoing training in the 2024/2025 financial year across the county. The program forms a key component of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s broader youth empowerment strategy, focused on creating inclusive development opportunities throughout the county.

The issuance of the licenses was graced by Area MCA Kyalo Mumo.

Makueni County has launched a one-month intensive motor vehicle training program for 65 young people from Kilungu Ward, conducted by Mumbuni Engineering & Driving School. Upon completion, participants will be licensed as fully qualified drivers.

The initiative, led by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, seeks to enhance youth employability, improve road safety, and advance inclusivity under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s empowerment agenda.

On Wednesday, County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni flagged off the program in a ceremony attended by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Salama Traffic Base Commander, and Kilungu Ward MCA Joseph Mbindyo.

The 65 trainees are part of a larger cohort of 289 youth to benefit from the county-sponsored driving training and licensing program in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.

Young entrepreneurs in Kithungo Kitundu Ward have taken a significant step toward self-reliance after receiving essential business start-up equipment from Makueni County’s Ujuzi Teke Teke empowerment program.

The initiative which is spearheaded by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, equips participants with practical skills and tools to launch and sustain their businesses. After completing an intensive 8-week hands-on training in entrepreneurship, the graduates were awarded trade-specific equipment to kickstart their ventures.

County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni presided over the equipment distribution ceremony, flanked by Area Member of County Assembly Kisungi wa Kitete.

This is part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr administration’s commitment to fostering youth innovation and reducing unemployment through such empowerment programs.

Makueni’s youth are poised to gain significantly from the 2025/2026 financial year budget and beyond, as the county government focuses on allocating program-based funding for their initiatives and projects.

This announcement was made on Friday by the County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, during a two-day Youth Sector Working Group training on Gender-Responsive Budgeting. The workshop, facilitated by VSO-Kenya, aimed to equip youth champions with skills to advocate for youth participation in budgeting processes, ensuring adequate resource allocation for their programs.

These champions will now engage and mobilize their peers at the grassroots level to actively take part in these processes.

Kyoni emphasized that this initiative aligns with Makueni County’s strategic efforts to fully integrate youth into development, in line with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s vision of social and economic inclusivity, where no one is left behind.

The forum also reviewed a draft youth strategy designed to formulate targeted interventions addressing youth challenges and fostering their growth and development.

Twenty six young budding entrepreneurs from Kikumbulyu South ward are set to transform their futures after receiving startup tools under the Ujuzi Teke Teke skills program.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, equips trainees with hands-on mentorship from seasoned business owners (master craftsmen) before providing them with trade-specific kits to launch their own enterprises.

County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni presided over the tools distribution, hailing the program as a catalyst for local economic growth.

Tools provided include: barbering & salon kits, welding equipment, mechanical repair kits, tailoring kits and car wash machines.