The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has handed over motorcycle start-up toolkits to 15 trainees, including seven inmates from Lodwar GK Prison and eight students from the Lodwar Vocational Training Centre, in a landmark initiative aimed at advancing youth empowerment and rehabilitation through technical skills.
The initiative, implemented under DRC’s Resilience, Peace and Stability Programme, is a five-month empowerment drive that equips young people with practical, market-ready skills to foster self-reliance and economic independence.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Robert Loyelei, the Chief Officer for Sports and Vocational Training, commended the DRC for its inclusive approach and called for the expansion of such initiatives across Turkana County.
Loyelei likened the effort to the county’s Ujuzi Mashinani model, a community-driven approach that decentralizes vocational training to reach grassroots communities.
“When we decentralize skills training, we open doors to opportunity. From prison workshops to village youth, every young person deserves a second chance,” Loyelei said.
He noted that involving inmates in technical training not only supports rehabilitation but also promotes behaviour change and job creation.
Loyelei further encouraged more young women to enroll in technical courses and advocated for the adoption of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification to validate informal skills and promote inclusivity.
John Ekutan, DRC’s Resilience, Peace and Stability Programme Officer, lauded the trainees for their commitment and urged them to remain focused ahead of national exams.
He reaffirmed DRC’s commitment to creating sustainable pathways for youth empowerment and rehabilitation in Turkana and beyond.
County TVET Director Stephen Eregae emphasized the need for greater collaboration between the government, training institutions, and development partners to scale up Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities.
He also proposed integrating Community Digital Centres (CDCs) within prison facilities to enhance digital literacy and access to technology.
Meanwhile, Samuel Komen, Officer in Charge of Rehabilitation at Lodwar GK Prison, hailed the Lodwar Vocational Training Centre for its transformative role in rehabilitating inmates through skills training.
He urged continued partnership between correctional facilities and vocational institutions to expand learning and livelihood opportunities for inmates.