Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has called on parents to take advantage of government education programs by sending their children to technical institutes.
The Governor said this even as the number of jobless graduate youth increase with meager job opportunities.
"I am calling upon every parent to make it a responsibility to send their children to technical institutes."
"Several homes have children who are either unemployed or dropped out of school. These are the people we are targetting to empower to acquire technical knowledge," said Mandago in Eldoret town on Wednesday.
According to the county boss, both the national government and his leadership has rolled out programs to harness technical skills.
"The government is very keen on technical skills, even gone ahead to sponsor students in technical institutes," said Mandago.
Speaking as he commissioned a Youth Information Centre in Eldoret, Mandago spelled out technical opportunities that will come along when the national government starts rolling out the affordable housing program.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's government has set establishment of Housing Units as among the four pillars of development in this term.
Already, the County Government of Uasin Gishu has established 11 Vocational Training Institutes (VTIs).
The County has also been paying Sh15,000 for every student enrolled in the VTIs.
"Technical skills is where the country is headed now. With manufacturing firms coming up, technical manpower will be in high demand," said Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno.
Governor Mandago further reiterated that the housing agenda will have Eldoret given up to 5,000 housing units.
Youth who spoke to give their testimonies acknowledged how skills obtained from technical institutes have turned around their lives.
"I own a saloon and a barber shop in Kapsabet, and I am earning a living, thanks to skills I got from Kanetik Vocational Training Institute in Uasin Gishu County," said one of the graduates of technical education.
" I urge our youths to enroll into these institutes, this way, you will employ yourself and become independent. I thank the County Government of Uasin Gishu for helping me," he added.