Cardinal Youth Association Rolls Out Empowerment Plan to Deal with Unemployment

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

As youth, women, and persons living with disabilities (PWDs) continue to grapple with lack of jobs, the Cardinal Youth Association (CYA) has initiated a strategic empowerment program to deal with unemployment in coastal six counties.

Speaking during the launch of CYA’s five-year strategic plan in Mombasa, chairman Major (Rtd) Frank Rioba highlighted key focused areas of waste management, tree planting, and blue economy jobs to create them.

In collaboration with the Coast Development Authority (CDA), the initiative will support over 101 community groups through grants, financial mentorship, and training.

“Currently, the unemployment rate stands at 36 percent and the umbrella body seeks to fill the gap by prioritizing creating meaningful economic empowerment activities in the next five years,” said George Ngulu, program and project coordinator.

CYA, an umbrella body of community based associations (CBOs), other civic associations, and companies across the country launched its 2026–2030 strategic plan aiming to bring more partners on board to achieve its job creation goals for vulnerable groups.

So far, over 2,000 people, drawn from youth, women, and PWDs have been directly empowered through various ongoing projects in the coastal region.

“If you look at our plan, we are involved in civic education and economic empowerment for youths and persons living with disability key pillars. Currently, our employment rate is at 36 percent and we are targeting to narrow the gap and make youth get decent jobs to sustain themselves,” he said.

CDA chairman Mzee Mwinyi Mzee praised the initiative saying it would eleviate livelihoods of the vulnerable and build the economy of the region.

“Such initiatives will refrain youth from the triple threat of drugs, crime and unemployment and make them productive persons in the community,” he said.

“CDA is ready to partner with them. The Coast region is endowed with a lot of resources; therefore, our partnership will go a long way in improving livelihoods through the resources the region has,” he added.

CYA is calling on more partners to join the effort by offering help to the vulnerable groups under the CYA stewardship.

CYA groups coordinator Michael Neto emphasised plans to scale up the activities by onboarding more youth groups.

“We are going to onboard more groups, train them, link them with funders so that they can sustain their livelihoods and grow the economy with what they will be doing,” he said.