Turkana, ILO partnership to empower urban poor

Turkana

Tuesday August 29,2023

KNA by Peter Gitonga 

The partnership between International Labour Organization (ILO) and the County Government is fast-growing and set to create self-employment jobs following the training on cobblestones in Lodwar. 

In solving the challenges of inadequate urban infrastructure and an unemployment among the youth, the Turkana County and ILO have embarked on an innovative trainer of trainees on cobblestones, who will, afterwards, train the local population on how to make pavements by use of cobblestones.

Addressing the trainees in Lodwar Vocational Training Centre, the Director for Vocational Training, Stephen Eregae said, “in a few years to come, cobblestone road and pavement construction will become one of the most successful infrastructure and job creation programmes in the county, with tremendous benefits for the urban poor.” 

Noting that it will create thousands of jobs, the VTC Director said the cobblestones training will greatly improve urban mobility and build collaborative relationships between communities and local authorities. 

Additionally, the Training Centre will in future ensure the competing small and micro enterprises (SMEs), acquire skills needed for chiseling, paving, and project management; key capacities needed after the cobblestone project turns to be permanent employment.

Eregae expressed a lot of optimism that cobblestone construction is labour intensive activity, as it will benefit the urban poor, especially youth and women through creation of jobs. 

He further observed cobblestones construction uses locally available materials that are durable as compared to cabros, which are made from the expensive cement. 

The Director said his Department is at advanced discussion with that of Public Works to ensure the trained personnel are absorbed in construction of cobblestones.

The first phase of the training comes after weeks of Trainer of Trainees were taken through the theoretical understanding of the cobblestone-making process. 

The second phase includes the practical aspect and 50 trainees are to benefit from the training.

Courtesy ; K. N. A