Over 260 young entrepreneurs from Kisumu and Siaya counties are among the first 2,137 beneficiaries of the Sh50 billion Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) given by KCB Group to create jobs for approximately 2.5 million youth in five years.
The 264 entrepreneurs who graduated from the first phase of the '2jiajiri' programme will be put to incubation schemes where they will get business ideas, mentorship and capital to start business.
They were part of the 2,137 people in 89 institutions across 20 counties enrolled for the pilot phase.
They were trained in various 3-6-month courses.
The plan will target 70 percent of existing entrepreneurs, while the rest of the beneficiaries will be potential business people.
The '2jiajiri' initiative seeks to fight the rampant unemployment in the country.
KCB Foundation chairperson Katherine Kola said they will link beneficiaries to the job market.
The Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with Naivas Supermarket to absorb some 450 interns annually from the programme.
Speaking during the graduation held at Tom Mboya Labour College, Ms Kola said KCB will hire accountants to help the trainees sharpen their fiscal management skills during the second phase of their training.