300 youth, women graduate from KBL vocational training

Beer maker, Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) said it had trained and graduated close to 300 youth and women through its entrepreneurship programme dubbed Heshima.

The graduates are from Nairobi, Kiambu and Nakuru counties.

Heshima is a vocational and entrepreneurship training programme, which aims to equip youth and women from across Kenya with practical skills to enable them earn a decent living “through productive and dignified work”.

Graduating participants were issued with certificates in entrepreneurship, tailoring, motor mechanical applications, hair and beauty, plumbing, electrical applications and catering.

Phase one of the programme targets 10 counties seen as highly susceptible to illegal, informal and illicit trade in alcohol. These are Nairobi, Kwale, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nakuru, Makueni, Machakos, Homa Bay, Migori and Kisumu.

Principal Secretary for Youth and Public Affairs, Dr. Francis Owino said such programmes are critical in helping the country deal with the burden of mass youth unemployment.

“Many African countries are grappling with the burden of youth unemployment. For us in Kenya, the weight is heavier because we are a young country with a median age of 19 years. Programmes such as Heshima, are necessary to complement what the government is doing towards youth empowerment,” he said.

Kenya Breweries Limited Corporate Relations Director Eric Kiniti said the company is committed to providing the youth and women with vital skills for employment and income generation.

“We believe in the power of self-sufficiency in addressing youth unemployment, which is rampant in the country. The Heshima Programme cements our commitment to building thriving communities by giving women and youth a chance to build a better future for themselves through vocational and entrepreneurship training,” he said.

Mr Kiniti said the programme is also helping the fight against sale and consumption of illicit brews by giving youth and women an avenue to channel their energy into projects they are passionate about.
The first batch of 89 Heshima beneficiaries graduated in May in Kisumu.

KBL in partnership with their mobilisation partner, Africa Initiative for Rural Development (AIRD), believes that Heshima will complement the various programmes being implemented by the national and county governments to fight illicit brews.