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.
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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.
This comes a week after the Ministry of Education, through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, has announced fully funded scholarships for needy students who will be joining Senior Schools in 2026.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, December 2, the ministry said learners must have achieved academic performance ranging from ‘meeting expectations’ to ‘exceeding expectations,’ corresponding to achievement levels 5 to 8 in the 2025 KJSEA assessments.
The ministry, however, noted that learners with special needs and disabilities will be considered regardless of achievement level.
Refugee learners residing in Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab refugee camps, who were learning in UNHCR-supported schools within the camps, or in nearby public junior schools, are also eligible to apply for the scholarships.
For refugee learners, boys must have achieved 'meeting expectations' to 'exceeding expectations' at Achievement Levels 5 to 8, while girls who scored 'approaching expectations' at Level 4 and above will also qualify.
In addition, applicants must come from poor or vulnerable backgrounds, including orphans, learners from urban informal settlements, those whose parents or guardians live with disabilities that affect their ability to meet school-related financial needs, and families affected by HIV/AIDS or other chronic illnesses that leave parents or guardians unable to adequately provide for their children.
Leaners who have suffered from neglect, abuse and have no support to continue with their education, and learners with special needs and disabilities are also eligible to apply.
To apply, interested applicants are required to collect scholarship application forms from the nearest Sub-County Education office.
Application forms for refugee learners can be collected from the office of the Camp Manager, UNHCR offices in Kakuma and Dadaab.
Applicants can also download the forms from www. education.go.ke or www.jkf.co.ke.
Duly completed application forms, including supporting documents, should be submitted either online or to the nearest Sub-County Education Office, on or before December 23, 2025, at 5.00 pm.
For online applications, refugee and non-refugee learners can submit through the link: https://scholarship.jkf.co.ke.
Shortlisted candidates, accompanied by parents or guardians, will be invited for interviews, which will be conducted by the Community Selection Advisory Committees (CSACs).
The scholarship will cater for school fees, transport to and from school, shopping and a pocket money for the beneficiaries for the three-year education period.
The learners will also be getting mentorship and psychosocial support throughout the period.
