Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said his government will increase opportunities for young people to have a decent and sustainable livelihood.
Joho said the county government will address youth unemployment which has been blamed for insecurity and drug abuse in the county.
He said that the unemployed youths are a soft target for those recruiting youth into gangs and radicalisation by terror groups.
“The government will have county projects that will help in uplifting the living standards of the youth and women,” governor Joho said on Tuesday in Mombasa Town.
He said the county government has launched a road project and the youth will be the first beneficiaries in the road works project. The youth were urged to change the face of the county and earn a decent living through the projects initiated by the county government.
“I have instructed my county executive for infrastructure to give jobs to the youth. The youth must take charge and develop their county," said Joho.
The governor also urged women to join in the road construction work saying they should stop viewing road construction as work for men only
“You have seen one young lady driving a roller even defeating men. Who said women cannot do it? I'm urging women to take advantage of this opportunity and get jobs.”
Joho said the county government will upgrade, pave and tarmac about 1,000 kilometres of road network in Mombasa.