A fresh wave of hope and enterprise is washing over Kisumu County, thanks to an innovative youth empowerment program that is turning highly skilled but unemployed graduates into pioneers of the Blue Economy.
The Kisumu County Youth Empowerment on Fisheries and Blue Economy initiative, a pilot program proudly supported by Trade Mark Africa, is not just training youths—it’s forging a new generation of job creators.
The initiative targets to incubate 80 youths in total, drawn from across the county. Each cohort of 20 undergoes an intensive six-month program designed to transform dormant talent into viable business ventures. The participants are a diverse and impressive group, including professionals in agriculture, ICT, human resources, and social work—all possessing skills that, until now, had no clear outlet.
Today, the first cohort took the spotlight, presenting their ambitious business ideas to a panel of experts led by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries, and Blue Economy Hon. Kenneth Onyango.
The ideas pitched were far from ordinary, signaling a future-forward approach to Lake Victoria’s vast potential. They included ventures in:
• Modern Aquaculture
• Specialized Eateries tapping into local fish markets
• Carbon Ice production, a critical link in the cold chain
• An innovative Electronic Monitoring System to combat illegal fishing, blending ICT skills with conservation efforts.
Addressing the budding entrepreneurs, the CECM delivered a powerful message that resonated with the spirit of the program. He acknowledged that expecting employment after graduation is a mindset that “shuts their ability to explore what their skills can give them.”
He urged the youths to seize this “rare opportunity” and consider themselves to be on the “right path to self-employment.” The session concluded with a significant pledge: the County Government would mobilize support through its partners for those who present the most practical and promising business models.
With this pilot program, Kisumu County is proving that the solution to youth unemployment isn’t just about finding jobs, but about creating them. These 20 young innovators are not only building their own futures; they are setting the sails for a stronger, more sustainable Blue Economy for the entire region.
