The Youth Enterprise Development Fund is to invest Kshs. 100 million to provide income to hundreds of youth in Nairobi, Kenya’s most populous city. The City Council of Nairobi will provide the land on which the Fund will build worksites and business premises to accommodate hundreds of youth. The infrastructure will include car wash sheds, market stalls, public pay toilets, modern newspaper stands and integrated bus shelters. These details were revealed during the signing of an MOU between the two institutions.

The City Council becomes the third to partner with the Fund in this programme. Last year the Fund entered into a similar arrangement with the municipal councils of Meru and Murang’a.

One of the key mandates of Youth Enterprise Development Fund is to attract and facilitate investment in micro, small and medium enterprises oriented commercial infrastructure that is beneficial to youth owned enterprises.

Speaking during the signing of the MOU, Youth Enterprise Development Fund CEO, Mr. Mwatata Juma Mwangala said that one of the greatest challenges facing young entrepreneurs is inaccessibility of decent business premises due to cost, especially considering the rudimentary nature of their enterprises. “This is why hawking is essentially a youth problem”, he added.

Mr. Mwangala said that the Fund will provide further support to the youth who will occupy these infrastructures, including loans, entrepreneurship training and mentorship. He added that these structures will enable hundreds of youth formalize their businesses and move them to premises that are more attractive to their customers and credible in the eyes of potential lenders.

Speaking in the same event, Mr. Richard Muteti who is a director of the Youth Fund said the kitty is willing to roll out the programme in all the civic wards of the city.

City Town Clerk Mr. Philip Kisia noted that unemployment is a big problem in the city. He said the council is willing to go the full length to ensure the youth are gainfully engaged, and in decent premises. The clerk encouraged the youth start small but think big, adding that even the mighty have their own humble beginnings.

Present during the event were YEDF directors Martin Keino, Gor Semelang’o, Samuel Macharia, Leah Chepkoske, Janet Mugo, Somba Kivalya and Susan Mang’eni. Others were city councilors and senior staff from the two institutions.