The KCB Foundation, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the Young Africa Works (YAW) initiative, has graduated 248 youth from vocational training programmes across Western Kenya. The milestone marks continued progress in efforts to tackle the country’s high levels of youth unemployment.
Graduates Across Three Counties
The latest cohort includes 41 graduates from Nzalwa Vocational Training Center in Vihiga County, 107 from Chevaywa Technical and Vocational College in Kakamega County, and 100 from Matili Technical Training Institute in Bungoma County. The trainees were equipped with market-relevant technical skills intended to improve employability and support entrepreneurship.
As part of the graduation ceremonies, 123 start-up toolkits were distributed to participants, providing resources to help them establish income-generating ventures. The allocation included 19 kits at Nzalwa, 48 at Chevaywa, and 56 at Matili.
Corporate Commitment to Job Creation
KCB Foundation Director Mendi Njonjo said the programme underscores the Foundation’s commitment to tackling underemployment in East Africa by empowering young people with technical and entrepreneurial skills.
“We are keen on equipping young people with the technical skills that can increase employability and boost income generation. The 248 young people who have graduated in Western Kenya mark yet another important step in our collective effort to attain this goal,” she noted.
Webuye East MP Martin Pepela, who attended the Matili ceremony, lauded the initiative for creating opportunities for young people to improve their livelihoods and contribute to local economic growth.
Wider Impact of the Programme
The KCB–Mastercard Foundation initiative targets 8,500 young people with training in technical and vocational education, with an expected ripple effect of generating over 43,000 jobs across the country. Training runs for six to nine months, blending classroom instruction, industrial attachment, and enterprise development.
Graduates are either linked to employment opportunities or supported in launching micro-enterprises. This includes access to trade-specific starter kits, business development services, and working capital from KCB Bank.
To date, KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri Programme—the flagship platform under which this initiative falls—has trained more than 35,000 youth, supported the creation of over 150,000 jobs, disbursed millions in youth enterprise loans, and distributed more than 2,000 business starter toolkits.
Youth Unemployment Challenge
Kenya continues to grapple with high levels of youth unemployment, with over 60% of the unemployed population aged below 35. Vocational training initiatives such as this are increasingly being viewed as practical solutions to bridging the skills gap and enabling self-employment.
