This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 13, 2019, the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender launched 15 refurbished youth empowerment centres in 15 counties across Kenya.
The centres, which cost Sh50 million to refurbish, will serve as resource facilities and leisure spots for the youth in their respective regions.
The government had established 152 youth empowerment centres in over 100 constituencies in 2012 under the Vision 2030 project.
However, the centres had remained unused, prompting the ministry to embark on refurbishing 21 centres in the 2018/2019 financial year, as stated by Public Service Principal Secretary Francis Owino.
"In order to make the YECs operational and beneficial to the youth, the ministry embarked on refurbishing 21 centres in the last financial year," Owino said.
The ministry allocates Sh150 million each financial year for development projects, including the establishment of youth empowerment centres.
Further funding has been allocated to refurbish another 60 centres in the current financial year.
The refurbished centres will provide ICT services, guidance and counselling on drugs and substance abuse, and HIV/Aids prevention, among other services.
They are also equipped for both indoor and outdoor games, creating a safe space for the youth to address their social, economic, and health needs.
