3,500 beneficiaries of the government’s 2Jiajiri programme graduated on Friday in a partnership between KCB Foundation and German Government-implemented by GIZ.

The government’s youth empowerment and job creation programme saw the beneficiaries graduate in construction during an event that was officiated by President William Ruto.

Ruto has reaffirmed the Kenya Kwanza government’s commitment to create employment opportunities for the youth in Kenya collaborating with both private and public partners.

“We will incorporate the youth in all government projects, beginning with the housing agenda that seeks to create opportunities for one million youth,” said President Ruto.

2Jiajiri is seeking to establish 30,000 businesses within the next five years and create at least 1.5 million direct and indirect employment opportunities.

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KCB Group Chairman Dr Joseph Kinyua the initiative will create decent jobs in the informal sector hence contributing to the overall economic growth of Kenya and the wider region.

“Access to skills and finances will help them buy tools and acquire knowledge that will give them dignity in their work,” said Dr Kinyua.

He added, “We are looking at raising the next generation of highly skilled and reliable masons, electricians, carpenters, hairdressers and mechanics among other trades.”

The youth were trained in construction through a three-year regional collaboration between GIZ’s Employment for Skills Development in Africa (E4D) Programme and KCB Foundation.

“We are giving them meaningful opportunities to start and grow their business,” said KCB Group CEO Paul Russo.


The programme by KCB Foundation and GIZ programme has so far created 1,257 businesses, 7,272 jobs directly and indirectly and supported more than 10,000 households.

“We leverage an integrated approach that includes upskilling to make small and medium-sized businesses more competitive, so they can meet the growing demand for supplies and services in the market,” said GIZ E4D Kenya Team Leader Thomas Jaeschke.

He added, “Ultimately, our goal is to generate more decent and sustainable employment in East Africa.”

The 2jiajiri program was launched in 2016 and seeks to formalize informal jobs and grow small businesses to employ at least five young people each.

22,959 youth have been trained on technical and entrepreneurial skills and Sh259 million in loans disbursed to empower youth to establish their businesses through provision of capital.