Youth to get more State contracts

President Uhuru Kenyatta had good news for the youth on Monday, directing that 30 per cent of government contracts be reserved for them.

Currently, only 10 per cent of the contracts have been set aside for the youth after former President Kibaki ordered the removal of all “legal bottlenecks” to accelerate the growth of youth-owned enterprises.

President Kenyatta said his administration’s aim was to give women and youths equal access to economic and financial opportunities.

“We will build on this by developing public-private partnerships that partner young men and women and local authorities in the government’s provision of basic services such as clean water and sanitation, roads maintenance, energy and waste management,” said the President on Monday

He was speaking at the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, during the official opening of the 24th Session of the Governing Council of the UN Habitat.

“We will also seek to expand entrepreneurship opportunities through the provision of affordable loans as well as an education that gives the youth relevant skills to make them competitive in urban economies,” said Mr Kenyatta.

He disclosed that the government would soon launch a new initiative known as ‘Biashara Kenya’ to provide young men and women access to finance for entrepreneurial ventures.

The directive is expected to be welcomed by youths who are already waiting for their share of the Sh6 billion that had been set aside to finance the presidential run-off.

The Jubilee coalition, led by Mr Kenyatta, had promised them the funds in the event that they won the March 4 elections in the first round, which they did.