Kakamega Deputy Governor Roots for the promotion rural youth employment in the agri-food sector

The Deputy Governor of kakamega, Prof. Philip Kutima who is also the CECM for Agriculture, Cooperatives and Irrigation; Livestock Production and Fisheries has challenged the youth to take advantage of various government programs to venture into agriculture as a source of gainful employment.

Speaking from his office at the county headquarters during the Virtual Launch of Rural Youth Employment in the Agri-Food sector project’ in five Western region counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Siaya, Vihiga and Kisumu sponsored by the German Development Cooperation, Prof. Philip Museve Kutima said the County Government of Kakamega as well as the LREB is working around the clock to gainfully engage youths in various fields especially in that of agri-preneurship.

• The project that will be implemented by GIZ focusses on key areas namely;
• The importance of youths employment and agri-preneurship for the Lake Region Economic Bloc
• How County Governments are addressing inclusion of youth in Agribusiness.
• Programmes in the counties that encourages participation of youths in Agribusiness and;
• The strategies by counties towards domestication and developing youths in Agribusiness.

“Youths unemployment continues to pose a huge challenge in this region that relies on Agriculture by over 80%,”

Prof. Kutima told the over 70 participants drawn from Germany, Nairobi and the five LREB counties.

He said LREB counties have enhanced technical capacities to empower the youths such as the County Youths and Empowerment Programme and ATVET programme in county polytechnics.

“Youths in our counties are also given opportunities to participate in decision making through their representatives who seat in the County Agriculture Sector Coordination Committee,” he added.

Counties like Kakamega, Prof. Kutima noted, have also established a Micro Finance Corporation that will lend youths in agri-preneurship at very low rates to spur investment in agriculture as a business.

The deputy governor who also doubles up as the CECM for Agriculture, Irrigation, Cooperatives, Veterinary and Livestock services in Kakamega County thanked the German government for continued partnership and called on the youths to take up Agribusiness as an investment.

Mr. Daniel Alker from the German Embassy in Kenya gave the opening remarks. Prof. Hamadi Boga the Principal Secretary State Department for Crop Development also addressed the participants.

Other participants were members of the Civil society & Development partners, Research institutions and the Private sector.