MARSABIT — The Marsabit County Government has lauded the Safaricom Foundation for its major contributions to education, health, and technical training, emphasizing that the partnership is transforming lives across the county.
Governor Mohamud Ali made the remarks during the official handover of three modern workshops at the Saku Vocational Training Centre under the Wezesha Vijana Programme.
Governor Ali noted that 213 youth have benefited from scholarships through the Wezesha Jamii programme, which is funded by the Safaricom Foundation in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
“More than 90% of those youth are already employed. This is clear proof that the programme is empowering young people to be self-reliant,” he said.
To further expand access to technical education, the county government has scrapped fees across all Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
In a further boost to technical education, the governor announced that 33 TVET tutors currently serving on contract will be transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms. The county has already advertised the positions, and recruitment is ongoing.
In health, the Safaricom Foundation invested KSh 39 million to build a modern maternity ward at Laisamis Hospital, which now serves residents of Laisamis and neighboring areas.
In basic education, the Foundation fully funded infrastructure projects at Karare Primary School. Additionally, in Uran, Moyale Constituency, it supported the construction of new classrooms, the rehabilitation of existing ones, and the drilling of a borehole to improve learning conditions. The Foundation also plans to support infrastructure improvements at the Umuro Vocational Training Centre later this year.
Governor Ali expressed gratitude to the Foundation for its continued collaboration, affirming that the county will deepen the partnership to enhance service delivery in education, health, and economic development.
“This is not charity. This is an investment in our people and our future,” he emphasized.
Earlier, Governor Ali received a courtesy call from Safaricom Foundation Trustees, led by Chairman Joseph Ogutu, alongside Catholic Relief Services Kenya Country Manager Margaret Kahiga. The delegation was in Marsabit to engage with Wezesha Vijana graduates and witness the programme’s impact firsthand.
