Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan announces skills programme to fight poverty in Kamukunji
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has launched a NITA-certified skills program for youth in the constituency’s five wards, offering free training, certification and start-up support to fight unemployment and poverty from 2026.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has announced a refresher and crash course programme set to start in January 2026 aimed at empowering youth and alleviating poverty in the constituency.
The initiative targets youth in Kamukunji's five wards, Pumwani, Eastleigh North, Eastleigh South, Airbase and California, where informal settlement residents face high unemployment, limited educational opportunities, and economic hardship.
The programme is open to youth aged 35 and below, with registration scheduled for December 15 and December 16 at Kamukunji Resource Centre. The courses are NITA-certified, and applicants do not need KCSE or KCPE certificates, making the programme accessible to a wide range of young people.
“Participants will undergo 3 to 6 months of practical, hands-on training designed to equip them with technical and entrepreneurial skills. Those who complete the programme successfully will receive start-up capital or tools to help them launch their own businesses. All participants who finish the training will also be awarded certification, providing formal recognition of their new skills.”
Speaking about the programme during the Uwezo Fund distribution at the California Resource Centre, MP Yusuf said the initiative is part of his effort to empower youth, build self-reliance, and support economic growth at the community level.
"This programme is about giving our young people the skills, resources, and confidence to create their own opportunities and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
He encouraged both men and women to register and take up the loans, such as the Uwezo Fund, noting that the initiative complements other community efforts, including bursaries and Uwezo Fund support, which have already helped improve education and livelihoods in Kamukunji.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan poses with Uwezo Fund beneficiaries during an event at the California Resource Centre in Eastleigh, Nairobi. (Photo: Kevin Gitau)
By equipping the youth with practical skills and resources to start businesses, the programme is expected to have a lasting positive impact, helping reduce unemployment, promote entrepreneurship, and empower the local community economically.
“Other regular bursaries are also open and ongoing, and members of the public are welcome to apply,” he added.
Linus Obuor, a member of the Kamukunji CDF committee, stressed that the initiative targets all young people aged between 18 and 35, with the only requirement being that applicants are registered voters in Kamukunji.
“We are appealing to all youth under 35 to participate. The programme will equip them with practical skills such as plumbing, electrical wiring, mechanics, hairdressing, and many more. The training will run for six months,” Obuor explained.
Obuor emphasised that MP Yusuf has pledged additional support, mentorship and financial assistance to help participants start their own businesses after completing the programme.
He added that previous projects have been successful, with beneficiaries expressing satisfaction at gaining valuable skills, considering many young people in the area have limited opportunities to advance.
“For youth to succeed, they need skills. That is exactly what this programme provides. Participants will also receive NITA-certified certificates, giving them formal recognition for their training,” he said.
Obuor clarified that while certification is provided, it is not a requirement to participate and urged all eligible youth to take advantage of the opportunity to gain practical skills.
Top Stories Today
