By Correspondent
Meru Youth Service trainees have been deploying to painting government institutions to earn an income. The young people who underwent training sponsored by the Meru County Government at local polytechnics have started using the skills they acquired to serve society.
The young people especially former street children have already started painting buildings that host various departments, including medical facilities, polytechnics, and offices.
The program, a pet project of Governor Kiraitu Murungi, saw the initial batches of youth drawn from across the county undergo various courses at local polytechnics from 2018, paving way for subsequent recruitment.
There has been subsequent recruitment of more youth, mainly from the unemployed whose academic progression had been hampered.
The members of the Meru County Assembly allocated millions of shillings in the MYS budget to ensure the progression of the same.
Youth numbering 600 underwent training at Meru National Polytechnic from which they graduated and went into self-employment, with others getting opportunities at the county government and other areas.
One time the ward’s reps had opposed the program citing financial and legal issues but Governor Kiraitu and his deputy Titus Ntuchiu struck a deal with the MCAs to rescue the program where a youth board was created to spearhead it.
The governor said the focus was to give priority to orphaned youth, and those from poor households and to enable them to acquire beneficial skills. The training is currently going at the MYS center in Igoji.
