At least 13 groups were disqualified in Thika sub county after applying for the Youth Enterprise Fund, the sub county youth officer Antony Muturi has said.
Muturi said that the vetting committee disqualified the groups after they failed to meet the requirements.
He revealed that, several groups from Thika that had sought funds to start businesses were disqualified for coming up with proposals that were not in conformity with the department of youths theme on youth, crime and drugs.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, the officer added that others were disqualified due logistics, high capital required and risks involved in the businesses proposed.
He however decried incompetent regional youth officers who he said did not undergo any formal training on handling youth affairs and proposal writing and instructed the sub county youth officers to liaise with the ministry to have the officers trained to effectively assist the youths.
Over 36 groups had applied for the funds ranging between Sh20, 000 and Sh50, 000 to initiate income-generating projects in the region.
Muturi said that his department will disburse the Sh1 million while Sh2 million will be channeled through financial institutions operating in Thika town and called upon more youth groups to apply for the funds while those that were disqualified were urged to re-apply after stremlining their proposals.
"I want to urge youths to apply for these funds because it is for their own good," he said.
He however cautioned youth groups that will be allocated money that the funds will have to be repaid after they start their projects for other registered groups to also benefit from the kitty.
He said the funds will be disbursed to the successful applicants next week.