Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has launched an aggressive Sh200 million economic stimulus plan aimed at defusing the "ticking time bomb" of youth unemployment in the county.

The Governor's strategy centers on a massive expansion of Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) and a strategic partnership with the private sector. Bii argues that the traditional academic route has failed thousands of graduates, necessitating a pivot toward technical skills that offer immediate self-employment opportunities.

The Sh200 Million Breakdown

"We are putting our money where our mouth is," Governor Bii stated during a crisis meeting with VTC principals in Eldoret. "We have young people with degrees who cannot put food on the table. That ends now. We are retooling our youth for the jobs of tomorrow."

The funds are allocated to specific, high-impact projects designed to upgrade the county's technical capacity:

• New Infrastructure: Sh43 million is strictly ring-fenced for constructing two new modern VTCs in Karuna Meibeki and Simat Kapseret.
• Strategic Partnership: Sh50 million has been mobilized through a joint venture with KCB Foundation's 2Jiajiri programme (Sh25m from the county matched by Sh25m from KCB).
• Renovations: Significant upgrades have been completed at the Eldoret VTC in Kipkenyo (Sh1.3m) and the Ng'enyilel VTC (Sh100m).

A New "Hustler" Paradigm

Governor Bii's administration is under pressure to deliver tangible results for the youth demographic that formed a core part of his electorate. The Governor challenged VTC heads to abandon "archaic curriculums" and adopt market-driven courses.

"If you are training typists in the age of AI, you are part of the problem," Bii warned. "We want plumbers who understand fluid dynamics, electricians who can install solar grids, and mechanics who can service electric vehicles."

The initiative also includes a new youth policy framework expected to be tabled in the County Assembly, which will institutionalize 30% procurement opportunities for youth-led enterprises. As the projects break ground, the Governor is betting his political capital that skills, not just degrees, will secure Uasin Gishu's future.