Murang’a County marked a major milestone over the weekend after more than 1,000 young people graduated under the Murang’a Youth Service (MYS), becoming the fourth cohort to complete the county’s flagship empowerment programme. The colourful ceremony, held on July 13 at the Murang’a Level 5 Hospital grounds, drew county leaders, MPs and religious figures who celebrated the youth’s discipline, skills, and readiness for economic participation. Since its launch three years ago, the programme has seen over 6,300 young people trained and commissioned into community service and vocational training opportunities.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata, who presided over the event, praised the graduates for their commitment and outlined the programme’s growing impact on families and local communities. The governor emphasized that MYS was designed not only to keep young people engaged in meaningful work—such as environmental conservation, urban cleaning and public service—but also to give them a direct path into technical training across county polytechnics. He highlighted the financial structure of the programme, where each participant earns a daily wage, with a portion channelled to parents, describing it as a model that promotes financial discipline and shared responsibility at home.
The ceremony also featured leaders such as Senator Joe Nyutu and MPs Peter Salasya, Babu Owino and Mark Mwenje, who commended Murang’a for creating a model that integrates vocational training accredited by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA). They encouraged the graduates to take advantage of the seed capital provided, noting that the KSh15,000 start-up grant and a one-year tax holiday give young people a head start in entrepreneurship. Religious leader and media personality Bishop Ben Kiengei applauded the county for restoring dignity to families by giving youth a structured opportunity to reimagine their future.
Looking ahead, Governor Kang’ata announced plans to expand the MYS intake and enhance the training curriculum to match emerging economic opportunities. He said future cohorts would benefit from more advanced skills, mentorship and stronger linkages to small businesses within the county. For many graduates, the programme marks the beginning of a new journey. One participant, Evans Kamau from Kandara, shared his excitement about starting a car wash business with the support he received, urging fellow youth to use the grant wisely so that the programme continues transforming lives across Murang’a.