Above: Mr. Khaemba the guest speaker giving a speech
I would like to thank the Management of Eastlands College of Technology for inviting me to open this most ambitious facility. It is no small honor for me, or for anyone for that matter, to preside over the beginning of an adventure poised to outlive its founders by many generations. I feel myself – I know that we all feel ourselves to be at the threshold of a life changing moment for many young people who will benefit from this institution.
The abundant good that will emanate from this College will profit not just its direct beneficiaries, but also their families, this neighborhood, our beautiful city and our Country Kenya at large.
I am informed that this is the first year of the College in the current property. A visitor would expect to find a lot of rubble and unfinished things lying around a newly completed building; but this is not the case here. The first building of the College is standing elegantly beside us, there are no heaps of litter around it and the green on the field is already taking root. I must congratulate you for this and say how grateful we are for the rain.
Above: A portrait view of Mr. Khaemba.
(By the way, I hope you will manage to keep people from walking on your grass… I can tell you from experience that it is not an easy thing to achieve).
But more than the external appearance of the facility, what really matters is what goes on inside this edifice. The technical training that this College promises to offer to the underprivileged youth especially from the Eastlands area of Nairobi is a focus that is indeed most appropriate and forward looking.
This idea resonates with the strategy and policies that our country has for young people. Last year, I set up the Nairobi City County Interim Youth Advisory and Resource Mobilization Board. This Board has the principal responsibility of advising my government on the mainstreaming and inclusion of the youth agenda in the affairs of the County and to propose permanent legal and institutional structures in that regard.1
In addition, H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta has been at the forefront when it comes to advocating for more engagement and involvement of young people in the task of nation building.
You may remember that in April this year, he said, “We want the opportunities accompanying our growth to reach every Kenyan wherever they live and work. We want our youth to be part of the transformation all the way; to share the labor and the harvest. This is why we have embarked on empowering the youth in every way possible”.2
All these efforts are aimed at tackling the problems surrounding youth unemployment in Kenya. As the Governor of Nairobi City County, I would like to see this College offering courses relevant to the needs of our young people and our industries, thereby encouraging employability and entrepreneurship.
Other than the technical training, I am also informed that Eastlands College of Technology endeavors to impart Life Skills to all its beneficiaries. This covers basic but important principles of life such as hard work, integrity, commitment, a spirit of service and a sense of responsibility. These are not just high-sounding words at your College, but are the values that you stand for and by your enthusiasm you cause your beneficiaries to embrace.
(By the way, I am not new to the Strathmore spirit and I am very aware of the care and professionalism that is employed at Strathmore and its affiliate institutions. It is my hope that this great spirit of doing things well will continue here).
Finally, as we gather here today for the opening of this promising institution, my heart reaches out to all who have played a role in making this day a reality indeed a dream fulfilled.
Nothing good comes easily and because of that, I believe that there are a few unsung heroes present or absent in this gathering.
Above: Some of the invited guests
To you I wish to convey my most sincere gratitude for the service that you continue to offer to this Country. Nairobi City County is proud of you. When the years have passed by and the current generation has grown old, the great service that the beneficiaries of this College will be offering to Kenya will forever be a reminder of your foundational efforts.
(Ladies and gentlemen, I think it is only fitting that as I finish my address, we all take a few seconds to clap for these people who have been instrumental in nurturing the idea of this College and who have worked tirelessly to raise it off the ground. Asanteni sana).
Thank you very much, God bless you and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.