Sh9.4m youth polytechnic to help tame school dropout rates in Uasin Gishu

From left: Prof Margaret Kamar, Claire Mathijsen, Elizabeth Tunoi, French ambassador to Kenya Remi Maréchaux, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and Mr Pius Kigen during the inauguration of Kosyin Youth Polytechnic on May 14, 2015. PHOTO | COURTESY | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Sh9.4 million facility aims at addressing runaway school dropout rates and will equip the local youth with technical and vocational training.
  • Mr Rémi Maréchaux, the French ambassador to Kenya, was the guest of honour at the institution’s inauguration ceremony held last Thursday.
  • The new youth polytechnic is the brain child of two long-time friends, Claire Mathijsen Roth (France) and Elizabeth Tunoi (Kenya).
  • Initially, the polytechnic would have been built in Chepkonga but was moved to its current location in Kosyin.

Youth education in Uasin Gishu County has received a boost through the building of Kosyin Youth Polytechnic.

The Sh9.4 million facility aims at addressing runaway school dropout rates and will equip the local youth with technical and vocational training that will enable them create jobs.

The education facility is built on land donated by Prof Margaret Kamar with funding from the French embassy’s Social Fund for Development, the government of Kenya and Rafiki ya Maisha, a Franco-Kenyan NGO.

Mr Rémi Maréchaux, the French ambassador to Kenya, was the guest of honour at the institution’s inauguration ceremony held last Thursday.

“Through this action, the French embassy wants to demonstrate its support towards provision of technical and vocational education and training that is accessible to all in the remote areas,” Mr Maréchaux said.

The ambassador said he hoped the vocational centre would provide a conducive learning environment.

Present at the inauguration was Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, Prof Kamar and other community leaders.

LONG-TIME FRIENDS

The new youth polytechnic is the brain child of two long-time friends, Claire Mathijsen Roth (France) and Elizabeth Tunoi (Kenya), who saw the need for education for Kenya’s youth.

The polytechnic will come in handy for community members especially those whose families cannot afford higher education for their children.

Initially, the polytechnic would have been built in Chepkonga but was moved to its current location in Kosyin.

The institution now boasts workshops, classrooms, dormitories with electricity and water.

Courses to be offered include catering and food technology, fashion design, information technology, electric and electronic technology, entrepreneurship, hairdressing, masonry, plumbing and carpentry among others.

Plans are underway to start an accounting programme.

It can accommodate 200 students in its 14 classrooms.

More classes are expected to be complete by end of August in time for the January 2016 intake.