The Kenyan Commercial Bank (KCB) of South Sudan has launched a KShs50-billion job creation programme.
This programme is intended to help aspiring and youthful Kenyan entrepreneurs within the informal sector to help ease the country’s employment concerns. The programme, titled 2JIAJIRI, is expected to benefit at least 500 000 entrepreneurs within five years, creating direct and indirect jobs for more than 2.5-million people according to KCB.
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“We have worked out a comprehensive youth empowerment programme informed by our belief that the youth hold the greatest sway in the pace and trajectory that the East African economy will take into the future,” said KCB group CEO, Joshua Oigara.
“We want to dignify the informal sector and give it the skills-set needed to churn the next generation of businesses for the informal sector,” he continued.
KCB’s new job creation programme aims to tackle Kenyan youth unemployment
KCB’s chairman Ngeny Biwott feels that the programme is a good fit for the government’s plans to boost youth employment. “We believe that through partnerships with organisations, we can redefine the youth unemployment challenges we are facing. We are committing to changing the youth narrative in the country.”
Up and coming entrepreneurs will receive technical training, as well as financial support for startups and business advisory services. Some of the benefiting entrepreneurs will link to work-experience programmes for proper exposure and hands on experience.
To date, more than 2000 youth have already had classes in 89 institutions for three to six-month courses. Once they’ve graduated, they’ll be put through a 12-month incubation programme.
“Entrepreneurship and innovation are an integral part of our DNA. We operate under innovative platforms and with an incubation programme, we will promote ideas, offer mentorship, provide concepts and methods to create an optimal environment for free enterprise,” said Oigara.
Featured image: Ting Chen via Flickr
