Meru Center

Meru County is at the beginning of a transition from a child rich population structure where those aged between 0-14 at 40% are at the onset of a decline while those aged between 15-34 years old, who constitute 35% of the total population are beginning to increase. In Meru County, 15% of the residents with no formal education, 18% of those with a primary education and 27% for those with a secondary level of education or above are working for pay. Work for pay is highest in Nairobi at 49% and this is almost twice the level in Meru for those with a secondary level of education or above. Only 18% of Meru County residents have secondary level of education or above.

North Imenti constituency has the highest share of residents with a secondary level of education or above at 31%. This is three times Igembe North constituency, which has the lowest share of residents with a secondary level of education or above. North Imenti constituency is 13 percentage points above the county average. Municipality ward has the highest share of residents with a secondary level of education or above at 50% each. This is eight times Kanuni ward, which has the lowest share of residents with a secondary level of education or above. Municipality ward is 32 percentage points above the county average. A total of 62% of Meru County residents have a primary level of education only. Tigania West constituency has the highest share of residents with a primary level of education only at 68%. This is 13 percentage points above North Imenti constituency, which has the lowest share of residents with a primary level of education only. Tigania West constituency is 6 percentage points above the county average. Two wards, Mbeu and Kiagu, have the highest share of residents with a primary level of education only at 70% each.

This is almost twice Municipality ward, which has the lowest share of residents with a primary level of education only. Mbeu and Kiagu wards are 8 percentage points above the county average. A total of 21% of Meru County residents have no formal education. Igembe North constituency has the highest share of residents with no formal education at 31%. This is twice North Imenti constituency, which has the lowest share of residents with no formal education. Igembe North constituency is 10 percentage points above the county average. Amwathi ward has the highest percentage of residents with no formal education at 36%. This is three times Municipality ward, which has the lowest percentage of residents with no formal education. Considering the relatively high percentage of persons with less than college or university education, it is obvious that these people cannot access while and blue collar jobs. They have to engage in what is called ‘hustling’ opportunities including manual work, jua kali, and service sector jobs in the farms and hospitality industry. Many youth are looking for opportunities to get skills training to increase their chances of getting a job and earning money.

CAP YEI involvement in the town

CAP YEI conducted a market scan in 2015 to establish skills training caps and job market skills needs among the common employers. It was found that there was need for hospitality, customer relations, and automobile sector industries. CAP YEI started it’s a training program in November 2015 hosted in Githongo Youth Polytechnic. It trains in Automobile mechanics and Hospitality respectively. Since the inception of the center, 5 batches of 228 students were enrolled, 149 trained and graduated, and 80.54% have been placed in jobs, 77 are in internship, and 18.12% had started their small businesses.