Uasin Gishu County Government has sponsored 60 students to join Eldoret National polytechnic to pursue a mechanical engineering course.
Speaking during the fifth Annual International Conference at Eldoret National Polytechnic on Wednesday, Uasin Gishu County deputy governor Daniel Chemno said that sponsoring youths to pursue technical courses is the only remedy to reducing the number of jobless youths in the county.
“We have sponsored 60 students at a tune of Sh66m who will be joining Eldoret National Polytechnic in their next intake. Each ward will produce two students to pursue courses in mechanical engineering who after completion can employ themselves in an effort to encourage youths to pursue technical courses,” said Chemno.
Chemno challenged the Eldoret National Polytechnic to work hand in hand with village polytechnics in offering quality training to artisan and technicians.
“The county government will build two polytechnics in each sub county in an effort to encourage youths to pursue technical courses,” said Chemno.
He urged the county and National governments to support the middle level colleges by making them centres of excellence in offering technology and innovation through developing skills that will help in service delivery.
Nandi County governor Cleophas Lagat said that innovation is important for human life since it helps one to see possibilities where there seems to be no hope.
“Students should be innovative for them to offer solutions to the problems facing the county both economically and socially,” said Lagat.
Lagat said that women should also be sponsored to pursue technical courses so as to address the gender disparity.
Eldoret National Polytechnic Principal Mr Josphat Sawe said that for the country and county governments to realise vision 2030 and be industrialised, the use of new technology and innovation is the way to go and the problem of unemployed youths will be a thing of the past.
“I urge county governments to continue supporting us through employing our students who are fully equipped with knowledge and are ready to improve productivity in our institutions and governments. I challenge them to be innovative and be job creators instead of job seekers as has been the norm” he said
He reiterated that the institution will continue producing quality education accredited by the Ministry of Education and offer mental, moral and ethical teachings that will impact knowledge.