KCB Foundation has graduated 460 youth in Mukurwe-ini Constituency under the Young Africa Works programme, an initiative run in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to expand job opportunities for young Kenyans.
The graduation ceremony was held at Giathugu Youth Polytechnic and brought together trainees from 15 institutions across the constituency, including Mukurwe-ini Technical Training Institute, Kaheti, Thangathi, Gathungururu and Giathugu vocational centres.
The programme equips vulnerable youth with technical and business skills designed to improve their chances of employment and self-reliance.
KCB Foundation Director Mendi Njonjo praised the programme for its growing impact, saying the graduation shows what targeted investments in young people can achieve.
“Today’s graduation is a powerful demonstration of what partnership and intentional investment in youth can achieve,” she said.
Adding;
“We are equipping young people with market-ready skills that not only improve their employability but also catalyse income generation and job creation.”
She added that the programme aims to train 8,500 youth nationwide, with the expectation that they will contribute to the creation of more than 43,000 jobs across Kenya.
The Young Africa Works initiative combines six months of classroom training with a three-month industrial attachment to ensure learners gain both technical knowledge and practical workplace experience.
The programme focuses on trades such as electrical installation, welding, hospitality, plumbing, tailoring, ICT and agribusiness.
Mukurwe ini MP John Kaguchia, who attended the event, described the programme as a game changer for the constituency’s young people.
“What we are witnessing today is a clear testament that when institutions unite for the sake of young people, transformation follows,” he said.
“This collaboration is uplifting not just individuals but entire families and the wider Mukurwe-ini community.”
Beyond skills training, the youth also receive business development support, starter toolkits and access to start-up capital through KCB Bank to help them transition smoothly into employment or entrepreneurship.
With the graduation now complete, the 460 beneficiaries are set to move into job placements, apprenticeships and business ventures under the 2Jiajiri platform, marking a new chapter in their journey toward economic independence.
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