Youth in Nakuru are accusing the county government of ignoring them while giving out county tenders.
According to the young entrepreneurs, the top brass in the Kinuthia Mbugua-led government are frustrating their efforts of trying to acquire tenders.
They accused the governor of not keeping to the directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta that 40 per cent of all tenders be given to youth and women groups.
Speaking at a Naivasha Hotel on Wednesday in a youth entrepreneurship retreat held by Nakuru Youth Business Association, the young people criticised the county government, saying that they feel marginalised in a majority of development agendas.
Chairman of the Association Brian Rambich from Molo accused MCAs and other officers from the county tender boards of extortion.
“The tender board is a group of corrupt and self-centred individuals out to fulfil their personal interests,” he said.
“They want you to bribe them for consideration which is totally against the law,” he added.
Local MCAs are said to demand 10 per cent of the whole tender amount so that they can help in pushing.
The youth called on Mbugua to act first because they were resorting to sending a delegation to the president to complain of being ignored.
“We want our governor to help us before we take the next step. We are ready to use our ideas in different development projects in our county but we lack the mutual and material support,” Rambich noted.
The retreat brought together youth leaders from different groups across Nakuru County to discuss different business and investment opportunities in the County.
“It’s only through brainstorming and sharing our diverse ideas as young people that our ultimate goal will be achieved, together we can go far,” the youthful entrepreneur said.