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Government Ready for KYEOP Phase Five Roll Out After Covid-19 Disruption

25th August, 2020

Source: https://www.mtkenyatimes.co.ke/government-ready-for-kyeop-phase-five-roll-out-after-covid-19-disruption/

The government is readying for the roll out of phase five of the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), following a COVID-19 occasioned break.

Speaking in Nakuru during a tour to assess the preparedness of master craftsmen, State Department of youth Principal Secretary Julius Korir said that the roll out is expected in the next few weeks.

Mr. Korir noted that the resumption of the programme will also see the completion of cycle four which was halted along the way in March following the COVID-19 pandemic.

PS Korir said that the Ministry was satisfied with the preparedness of the master craftsmen across the counties he so far has toured.

KYEOP is a government of Kenya and World Bank implemented project running for a period of  five-years.

The projects main aim is  to enhance Youth employability through technical skills an increasing earning opportunities for Youth aged between 18-29 years and who have up to form four level of education.

The Kshs 15 billion project began in 2017 and has so far seen some 45,000 youth being trained.

According to PS Korir, of the 45,000 already trained, 39,000 of them have been gainfully employed while the remaining 6,000 have started businesses.

The KYEOP project design has adopted the “apprenticeship “model for training the Youth where Master Craftsmen are contracted to take the Youth through skills acquisition.

Each Master Craftsman is allocated a maximum of six (6) trainees for the five (5) months Jobs Specific Skills Training.

The beneficiaries   will go through a one month Life skills training prior to being allocated to Master Craftsmen.

Preparation for the admission of the cycle 5 cohort has been completed.

Cycle five will see an enhanced number of beneficiaries and will be tailored towards “preparing Youth for acquisition of employability skills training and enhanced opportunities to bolster their survival in the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant challenges,” said the PS.

PS Korir said that Over the last three weeks, the Department has been conducting Master Craftsmen and Formal Training Providers assessment to gauge their preparedness for the resumption. “Of key importance is their conforming to Ministry of Health COVID-19 safety measures”,he observed.

The model adopted for grants beneficiaries who show entrepreneurial aptitude  receive  funding to start individually owned enterprises.

The PS said that the government was Keen on extending the project across all the 47 counties from the current 17 participating counties.

“With the availability of partners and funding we will be ready to extend the project to all the remaining counties,” he said.

Mombasa, Kilifi, Nairobi, Nakuru, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Mandera, Turkana, Wajir, Bungoma, Kakamega, Kwale, Kisumu, Kisii, Machakos, Kitui and Migori are the current participating counties in the project.

The computerized random selection process of Youth beneficiaries for cycle 5, is expected to begin on Monday, 24th August 2020.

At the same time the PS said that the Ministry Besides is in the process of launching another KYEOP product called Innovation Challenge, which is a product for Hard- to -Serve Youth.

He equipped “preparation for its launch is at an advanced stage. The Hard to Serve Youth are Youth are in marginalized areas, those in rehabilitation centers (crime, drug and substance) and generally those under management of institutions.”

He said that once rolled out, the new product will help Youth in these circumstances to benefit from the various KYEOP interventions (training, internship and grants).