MMUST Students Empowered Through Mentorship Training Under the Young Africa Works Program
Over 200 students at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) benefited from a dynamic mentorship training session conducted by the Youth Agenda in partnership with the Kenya Community-based Women Empowerment Programme (KCWEP), with support from Mastercard Foundation and BrighterMonday Kenya. The training, held on 21st April 2025, is part of the Young Africa Works initiative aimed at addressing the growing challenge of youth unemployment in Kenya. The program aspires to equip 310,000 young people with vital soft and entrepreneurship skills by 2026, with the goal of enabling over 107,000 youth to secure dignified and fulfilling work opportunities.
One of the students being awarded a certificate.
This training was coordinated by Dr. Patricia Kariaga (Coordinator, Short Courses and Webometrics Research) in collaboration with the Directorate of Career services led by Prof. Robert Egessa and the Coordinator, Extensions Services and Outreach Unit, Dr. Issah Kweyu. During the MMUST session, students were taken through practical and interactive modules that addressed common gaps young job seekers face in the labor market. The other key topics tackled included CV writing, interview skills, digital job hunting, soft skills development, and career planning which are often overlooked yet crucial for job readiness. This event was facilitated by Mr. Augustus Mwasame from BrighterMonday Kenya.
The Kenya Community-based Women Empowerment Programme is a charitable organization founded by MMUST alumnus Mr. Gerry Mwanzi. This organization offers attachment and internship opportunities to social work students especially from MMUST. Mr. Mwanzi expressed delight to the mentorship program saying that it not only prepares the younger generations to look for jobs, but also makes them ready to seize opportunities, create their own paths, and thrive. “This is a great opportunity for you to enhance your skills and boost your employability and entrepreneurship skills,” said Mr. Gerry Mwanzi, the CEO KCWEP.
[Photo-Courtesy] Mr. Gerry Mwanzia, the CEO KCWEP during a past event.
A section of the students at the event.
The other notable personalities who took part in the mentorship programme included Mr. Fred Anami (Programmes manager), Ms. Mary Keya (Human Rights Officer), Ms. Miriam Maliro, Mr. Mike Ulunya, Ms. Ruth Maina, Mr. Calvince Otieno, Mr. Godfrey Otiso, Mr. Philip Shiundu and Ms. Clare Mboya.
This training reinforces the University’s commitment to providing practical, industry-relevant learning experiences that enhance students’ employability and entrepreneurial potential. It also provided an incredible opportunity for the students to boost their employability capacity, preparing them for a competitive job market and opportunities for self-employment.
By Linet Owuor
Photos by Shiundu Masafu
