KCB Foundation and the Nandi County Government marked the graduation of the second 2Jiajiri cohort at the Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex, highlighting a joint effort to curb youth unemployment.
The programme equipped graduates with vocational skills in a range of technical trades and linked them to employment and entrepreneurship through business development services, mentorship, market connections and start-up financing.
“Skills development must go hand in hand with job creation,” KCB Foundation Head of Programmes Joblin Omari said, adding that training only delivers value when graduates obtain work, launch sustainable businesses or generate opportunities for others.
Governor Stephen Sang stressed that the partnership supports the county’s human-capital agenda, noting, “We must equip our young people with practical, market-relevant skills that enable them to secure employment, start businesses and create jobs for others.”
To date the initiative has generated over 150,555 employment opportunities, trained 35,195 young people, supported 10,954 youth-owned enterprises, facilitated more than USD 2 million in start-up loans and distributed 2,225 toolkits to graduates.
County projections indicate that the working-age population will reach 647,981 by 2027, underscoring the need for skills that match labour-market demand.
A third cohort of trainees is already enrolled, while the 2Jiajiri programme, launched in 2016, builds on KCB Foundation’s establishment in 2007 to deliver corporate social investments across enterprise development, education, health, environment and humanitarian fields.
By collaborating with county authorities, technical institutions and industry partners, KCB Foundation aims to create sustainable pathways from training to productive livelihoods.
