The KCB Foundation through the youth empowerment programme ‘2jiajiri’ will equip 1,000 persons living with disability with technical and entrepreneurial skills this year. The beneficiaries will receive vocational training at technical training institutions across the country in various trades that form the backbone of the informal economy that is agribusiness, automotive engineering, beauty and personal care, building and construction and domestic services.
The Foundation will extend business development services and financial support to PWDs operating Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and apprentices who will be recruited through the KCB Bank branch network in the country. The Foundation will also offer Business Development Services and financial support to the out-of-school youth to start their own enterprises upon completion of training.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), nationally, three out of every 100 people live with a disability. Unfortunately, poverty and disability are closely linked, and PWDs are more likely to face a socio-economic disadvantage.
Speaking at the event UK High Commissioner Nic Hailey, had this to say, “Almost 90% of the jobs created in Kenya are from the private sector, so it’s really inspiring to see KCB launching this project to bring people with disabilities onto their job creation programme to help them get the market for their products, because that’s where the real change is going to happen. It’s out there in creating opportunities for people.”
KCB Foundation Managing Director Jane Mwangi stated that, the Foundation’s objective is to empower persons living with disabilities to run businesses that can allow them to utilize existing opportunities such as access to the 30% of Government procurement opportunities set aside specifically for enterprises owned by youth, women and PLWDs through the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme.