By John Mutiso
Machakos County has launched the Second Cohort of the Machakos Youth Empowerment Program, an initiative designed to equip young people with essential skills, digital literacy, discipline and practical exposure.
In a statement on Monday, December 8, Governor Wavinya Ndeti said the county has begun recruitment and sensitisation across all sub-counties as it targets a total of 4,500 youths for the upcoming intake.
She announced that the county has officially opened the selection process to ensure that every eligible youth has an equal chance to join the programme.
“Today marks the beginning of a new and exciting journey for the Second Cohort of the Machakos Youth Empowerment Program, with selection and recruitment now underway across all our sub-counties to ensure that every qualified young person has an equal and fair opportunity to join this transformative initiative, entirely free of charge,” she said.
According to Ndeti, the county is implementing the programme through the Machakos Youth Service and the Machakos Youth Empowerment & Digital Program.
She noted that these two pathways continue to unlock opportunities for thousands of young people by providing discipline, valuable skills and exposure to real-world challenges that prepare them for future productivity.
“Through the Machakos Youth Service (MYS) and the Machakos Youth Empowerment & Digital Program, we continue to open doors for thousands of young people to acquire essential skills, discipline, and real-world exposure that prepare them for a brighter and more productive future,” she stated.
Ndeti added that the programs are intentionally structured to build confidence, enhance responsibility and open new avenues for economic and personal advancement.
In this cohort, 1,500 youths will join the Machakos Youth Service while 3,000 will be placed under the digital empowerment programme.
“These programs are carefully designed to empower our young men and women with valuable life skills that build confidence, enhance responsibility, and unlock new pathways for both personal and economic growth. In this cohort, 1,500 youths will join the MYS program, while 3,000 others will be enrolled in the Youth Empowerment & Digital Program,” she added.
According to the programme schedule, sensitisation and awareness activities are running from November 26 to December 5, 2025, followed by village-level recruitment for the Machakos Youth Service on December 8 and the digital empowerment programme on December 9.
Ward-level compilation of trainee lists will take place on 10 December, with sub-county data consolidation scheduled for December 11, 2025.
The programme requires applicants to be residents of Machakos County, possess a valid national ID, be between 18 and 35 years old and commit to full participation.
No academic qualifications are required, making the initiative accessible to all eligible youths across the county.
