HOMA BAY, Kenya, Feb 17 – Rangwe Member of Parliament Dr Lillian Gogo has embarked on an initiative of identifying unemployed graduates in her constituency to empower them to access government jobs and tenders.
Gogo said they have started with 38 jobless youths who graduated from various universities and colleges in the programme dubbed Critical Thirty-Eight.
The youths have been brought together and mentored by various professionals to enable them access jobs.
They are taught how to access jobs from various platforms in which they are advertised. The jobs include both tender and white collar jobs.
Speaking during the launch of the programme in Rangwe town, Gogo expressed optimism that the initiative would enable youths who are jobless be gainfully engaged.
Some of the pioneers graduated more than five years ago. She said such youths have suffered due to unemployment.
“Assessment conducted in the constituency revealed that many graduates don’t have jobs. This programme is meant to teach them how they can access jobs,” Gogo said.
The MP said her objective is to improve lives of the youths over the next three years.
She said that the constituency had been allocated Sh35 million to be disbursed to bright needy students across all the four wards in the sub county.
“We are going to engage the 38 youths in vetting pupils who should benefit from bursary to be disbursed in the next few weeks,” she said.
The MP said political leaders should empower the youths rather than misusing them for selfish interests.
Graduates who have been identified hailed the programme with a graduate of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Jerim Onguru saying the mentorship programme was going to transform their lives as it would open avenues for success.
He said many of them suffered due to lack of employment. “Some of us have stayed for more than five years without getting jobs,” Onguru said.
