(Kamau wa Thariki is a community leader and an advocate of social change)
Unemployment, drug abuse, crime among other social ills have held back our youths from living a complete life.
Although the government has formulated various methods to create opportunities for the youth, it is evident that these efforts do not suffice, and there is a need to create more avenues to empower the youth.
In retrospect, Kiambu County has a lot of significance on the national table given the high number of youths in the county, its proximity to the capital city, and its political relevance.
In light of the fact that this is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard, success stories of youth empowerment should come from this county as part of his legacy.
Such empowerment, however, needs not to be primarily based on employment but an all-around approach geared towards equipping the youth with skills and aptitude for responding positively to the challenges they face.
With Kiambu county thriving in agriculture, this sector should be mapped out as a youth empowerment zone. Kiambu's agriculture sector has the potential to employ hundreds of youths if proper mechanisms including a ready market for their products is streamlined.
Additional skills in farming, for example, aquaponics and greenhouse farming should be provided by the county government as part of its mentorship programme for youths.
Fish farming can also be of great importance given that a large part of the current population across the country has shifted to fish consumption.
Another additional gift that Governor Ferdinand Waititu's administration can give youths in Kiambu should be imparting skills needed in the many industries that are found within the county.
He could do this by ensuring that technical and vocational institutions within the county are well-equipped and youth-friendly.
This will give them a higher employability chance and even the willpower to start their own innovative ventures from the skills they have gained over time.
Though Waititu has in the recent past positioned himself as the leading campaigner against alcoholism in Kiambu, much still needs to be done to salvage you men and women who have been enslaved by alcoholism and drug abuse.
Further, as the national government continues to disburse funds to the counties with the intent to foster youth empowerment, Waititu’s administration has a responsibility to ensure that these funds are channelled towards youth-oriented initiatives.
Equally, the youth have a reciprocal role to play by embracing all opportunities and proactively creating them to supplement the government’s efforts as a measure to reduce social vices.
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