Kirubi called on youths in the country to become innovative and create job opportunities instead of seeking employment.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 14- “Don’t try and hold a hundred percent of what you have, look for partners,” were the wise words of the Business Mogul Dr Chris Kirubi to young entrepreneurs in the country.
It was during a celebration in honour of six young entrepreneurs who had been mentored by the Keroche Foundation.
Kirubi kicked off his powerful presentation by picking on a question he had been asked on Monday through his #AskKirubi platform on Twitter.
“I have a problem of spending too much, how can I stop this?” Dr Kirubi was asked.
His response, which elicited prolonged laughter was; “It is only you who can rescue yourself from this spending…so get on with it and stop spending!”
Kirubi called on youths in the country to become innovative and create job opportunities instead of seeking employment.
“Do you have to be a slave of somebody? It is a pity,” he said.
He lamented that “our colleges and universities don’t teach people on self reliance, they teach you how to go and look for a job. They even teach you how to write an application letter…totally dis-empowering somebody.”
He says for the country to eliminate poverty, the young people who are majority in the country must engage in productive activities.
“I had a worse life. I did not have mentors…I had so much poverty that I believed if I don’t do something, my life will be totally destroyed,” he recalled. “I came from the poor of the poorest.”
He recalled an instance when he used to work for the Railways and his salary was Sh5.
“I decided poverty will be my motivator,” he said while highlighting a list of global awards he has since received among them from the governments of Ghana and France.
Dr. Kirubi was speaking during the award ceremony of the Keroche Foundation Academy Pioneer class of young entrepreneurs, where six young business people were awarded.
“I talk to young people who say they are looking for a job and have a masters degree… you have been in school for half of your life, didn’t you learn something that you can put to practice?” he queried.
To him people aspiring to become great entrepreneur’s need, “to keep walking.”
Keroche Foundation Patron Tabitha Karanja on her part challenged the Government to support local industries by improving the business environment.
“Recent experiences by Kenyan entrepreneurs at forums such as the world economic forum and the Africa leadership network confirms one thing, Africa is looking on Kenya to provide leadership,” she said.
Other than a month of mentorship, the Keroche breweries through their foundation also gave them monetary awards ranging from Sh600, 000 to Sh 1.5 million.
One of the young entrepreneurs was Irene Wanjiku the Chief Executive Officer of REXE Roofing Products LTD.
Wanjiku through the mentorship has already managed to sell her roofing products to malls in Nairobi and Uganda, Belgium embassy among other places.
