The tools will be used in training on carpentry, masonry, joinery, plumbing and other vocational skills. The Foundation also donated computers to be used for training the inmates on basic computer skills.

The training enables the inmates to gain skills that can get them into employment or entrepreneurship once they complete their terms.

Through the training, it is hoped that the skills acquired will be put to good use by the inmates as they seek to integrate back into their societies once they are deemed ready for it.

The handover of the tools is in line with Safaricom Foundation’s Economic Empowerment programme, which supports youth through trainings in vocational centers and thereafter entry level jobs upon completion of the programme.

The programme aims to support 1,700 youth between 18 and 25 to learn new skills and build the work experience that can enable them to make positive contributions to society.

The training is held in vocational centers across the country and takes between four and eight weeks to complete.

According to the August 2020 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Kenya’s unemployment rate stands at 10.4 percent, up from 5.2 percent in March, the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

The rise in unemployment rate has been triggered by the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy.

The report further states that the number of employed now stands at 15.9 million from 17.8 million in March.

This means that investments in technical and vocational education and training have to continue and even increase as work continues to create employment and self-employment opportunities for Kenyan youth.

Safaricom Foundation is fully committed to this and its investment is targeted to help fill skills gaps in areas such as fashion and design, construction, automotive engineering, carpentry and other technical jobs.