Governor Ngilu acts to
revive Kitui garment industry
By Barrack Muli with
Munyasya Musya
 |
| Governor Ngilu, flanked by her deputy Dr Wathe Nzau(R) and MCA Anthony Ndoo(C), in a jubilant mood with a section of the 120 students |
KITUI Governor Kaluki Ngilu has made a decisive step to revive the couty's garment industry and place young people on the road to wealth creation.The ambitious plan specifically targets the young people providing training, equipment and financial support to local garment makers.
Govetrnor Ngilu flagged off 120 to begin a rapid training excercise.The first batch of 120 trainees released on Saturday will come back after a two month training at Trendy Technical and Vocational Training Centre in Nakuru to work at the new garment production plant started with the county government funding at Syongila Vocational Training Centre in Kitui County and later spread to other parts of the county.
“ As a leader, I have to first give youths skills to earn a living who shall in turn transform the social-economic welfare of the county”, said Governor Ngilu.
The 120 trainees, among them 80 women, were nominated by Kitui residents through public participation in March this year in which each of the county’s 40 wards nominated three youths.
The plan which seeks to empower the youth through income generation from garment making targets at least 1000 youth each year in partnership with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
“In a nutshell, we are aiming at training and creating jobs for 4000 youths in this sector alone in the next four years. This programme will ultimately revive and spur growth in the garment making sector”, said Governor Ngilu when she commissioned training of the first batch of trainees at Kitui Bus Park in the company of among others the Education Minister Mr David Kivoto.
Ngilu has grand plans for the industry as she plans to bar the purchase of uniforms for Kitui Schools from sources outside the county.
The uniforms, believed to be worthy over Sh 2b each year will have to be sourced from Kitui county.
