Thika sub county Youth Officer Patrick Muema has called on youths in Gachagi slums to apply for the county-sponsored Biashara Fund to start small businesses in order to empower themselves.
Muema, while speaking to the youths in the area on Wednesday, noted that many of the area youths were not engaging in crime as it would be expected among many slum youths but were rather looking for opportunities in the nearby stone quarries.
"I was delighted when I heard that many youths here work hard to earn a living and crime rate is relatively down as a result. That is encouraging and that is why we came here today to sensitise you on Biashara Fund that will give you more empowerment and make you dependent on yourselves," said Muema.
Muema said that officers from his office were ready to help the youths find out which viable business opportunities existed in the area through regular training to enable them benefit from them and repay their loans in time.
"We note that many youths fear that they will be unable to repay their loans once they apply for them. But that only happens if the applicants do not go for viable business opportunities and that is why we want to be giving them regular training," he added.