Job creation and youth innovation calls echoed at music festival

Mumias muslim girls school perform on the fifth day of the 92nd national music festivals at Dedan Kimathi university of technology in Nyeri, August 10, 2018. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Youth must not wait for white collar jobs to make a difference since opportunities for self-employment are many.

This was the message at the ongoing Kenya Music Festival at Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri yesterday.

Through songs composed by teachers, students stressed the role played by entrepreneurship and innovation in job creation.

“I no longer want to be a burden, but a dependable productive individual,” sang Malava Boys High School choir conducted by Gloria Sungu.

Thika High School called for innovation in agribusiness by telling youth that farming is cool because it pays.

Kisii High School expressed disappointment with youth who whirl time away doing nothing, and urged them to take charge of their destiny.

Never go unpunished

The students were performing in a special class named ‘2Jiahiri’ sponsored by the KCB Foundation.

Other schools participating in this class were Kabarnet High, Kathiani Boys, Chianda High, Njoro Boys, Kamusinga Boys, St Bonaventutre Kaheti and Pope Paul VI Junior Secondary School from Eastern region.

Colleges performed in the Agenda 4 special class that promoted the ‘Big Four’ agenda as envisioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.

Kabet National Polytechnic won with their number Mwelekeo Bora as Nyeri Polytechnic came second with their song Agenda Zetu Nne directed by John Mutua as Jordana College of Technology took bronze.

Earlier, the universities participating in African spiritual arrangements turned the arena in a solemn and prayerful mood with their gospel music punctuated with African beats.

University of Nairobi rendered Yo Maber, (The good path) urging humanity to choose the straight and narrow path, for it is the only way to achieve purity and eternal life.

Directed by Dr Fred Atoh, the song warns that bad deeds never go unpunished.

Elijah Adongo composed En Ee yoo Ngima (He is the only way to eternal life) and performed by Kenyatta University while Egerton University presented Avesinga (Jigger) composed by Humphrey Kisia.

The song urges people to maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene. Eldoret Polytechnic presented a Mauritius traditional cultural dance that wowed many for its gracefulness and elaborate costumes.

The dance, choreographed by Paul Kisali, was originally performed by slaves originally from East Africa who remained in the Island even after emancipation.

Kenya Technical Teachers Training College had a good run winning in 11 classes and taking four second position.

“I am very happy with the performance of the students and we will offer more support in future,” said the principal Hilda Omwoyo, who had joined the trainer Kessy Kangai and the students in a celebration.