Artisans urged to form associations for recognition

The government is calling on artisans operating from Constituency Industrial Development Centers to form or join associations in order to tap business opportunities in government agencies as well as in regional market.

Trade Principal Secretary Johnson Weru says equipment provided in the government owned industrial centers are meant to facilitate small-scale entrepreneurs produce quality and standardized products that would appeal to the global market.

Constituency Industrial Development Centers based in constituencies are meant to ensure skilled graduates from TVETs have equipped spaces to start businesses.

So far, 158 constituency industrial development centers have been set up, with 100 worksites provided for technical skilled youth across the country, with Gatanga constituency being the pilot site for equipment distribution.

However, Trade Principal Secretary Johnson Weru says land tussles are derailing the setting up of more constituency industrial development centers in some areas.

He says the eighth cycle of the Kenya Youth Employment Program would be rolled out next month and would target to fund artisans while pledging to facilitate exportation of products made in such centers.

Officials are challenging artisans to form or join associations to gain recognition as formal units, which would upscale them to the regional market.

However, artisans say the equipment and infrastructure at the Constituency Industrial Development Centers are inadequate for the number of graduates leaving TVETs every year.