Kiambu Town MP Machua Waithaka has pledged to expand opportunities for young people to showcase their talents, saying the initiative will help them secure livelihoods, build confidence and steer them away from crime and political violence.
The legislator said talent development was an important avenue for empowering young people, particularly those who have completed school but lack opportunities to pursue their artistic interests.
Speaking during the Machua Project Fame talent competition at the Ndumberi ICT Hub in Kiambu, Mr Waithaka said the initiative was designed to identify, nurture and promote emerging musicians, actors, dancers and other performers.
He said the competition brought together young men and women with diverse abilities, giving them an opportunity to perform before professional judges who would assess their skills and offer guidance.
The MP said the most outstanding performers would be linked to radio and television platforms to help them gain exposure and advance their careers.
“Many of our children who have finished school have talents that are not usually known. We must bring them together and create a foundation where they can showcase what they can do,” he said.
Mr Waithaka expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that the competition had attracted a large number of young people eager to demonstrate their abilities.
He said the initiative was part of a broader effort to provide constructive engagement for the youth, warning against the exploitation of young people as political goons.
“We oppose this talk of goons. Our children should be nurtured and looked after so that they can become responsible people who build our country,” he said.
The MP pledged to make the talent competitions a regular event, saying the initiative would be expanded to accommodate more young people and a wider range of artistic disciplines.
He said the programme would complement existing initiatives in sports, digital skills and other areas aimed at equipping young people with skills to earn a living.
The competition attracted participants from different parts of Kiambu, many of whom said the event had given them an opportunity to discover and develop their abilities.
Florence Wanjiru, a participant from Ting’ang’a Ward, said the platform had enabled her to perform an acapella love song before judges and receive feedback on how to improve.
She said the opportunity had made her feel valued, adding that many young people had talents but lacked platforms to express themselves.
“I have never tried performing before because there has never been such a project here. When the opportunity came, I discovered that I could sing,” she said.
Ms Wanjiru urged the MP to sustain the initiative, saying it had already begun making a difference in the lives of young people.
She said the programme had encouraged participants to believe in their abilities and pursue opportunities beyond the competition.
Elliot Kimani, another participant, said the event had provided a valuable platform for young people to express themselves and discover their potential.
He urged leaders to invest in music, acting and other creative disciplines, arguing that youth empowerment should not be limited to sports.
Mr Kimani said he had previously benefited from the Jitume digital skills programme supported by Mr Waithaka, which introduced him to online freelancing.
He said the skills had enabled him to earn money through digital work, demonstrating how targeted interventions could help young people become financially independent.
Terry Mureithi said the competition had given her an opportunity to receive professional feedback on her singing and identify areas requiring improvement.
She called on leaders to adopt a broader approach to youth empowerment by addressing their emotional, mental and social needs alongside talent development.
The judges commended the organisers for creating a platform where young people could showcase their abilities and receive professional guidance.
One of the judges, John She’s, encouraged participants not to view the competition as a failure if they did not emerge among the winners.
He said the courage to perform before an audience was itself an achievement and urged the contestants to continue practising.
“Showing up is also winning. If you are not called today, there is always tomorrow,” he told the participants.
He said the judges would explore ways of supporting contestants beyond the competition, including opportunities in music, acting and rap.
Another judge, who pledged to support the top five performers, said he would seek to take them to Radio Maisha for exposure, subject to their agreement and the necessary arrangements.
He urged the organisers to make the competitions bigger and more frequent to identify more young artists and give them opportunities to develop their careers.
The judges also encouraged participants to support one another, warning against discouragement among those who did not win.
Kiambu County Youth Officer Mwangi said talent could open doors for young people and provide opportunities for meaningful employment.
He said initiatives such as Machua Project Fame were important in helping young people channel their energy into productive activities.
“When a young person has nothing to do, they have a lot of energy. If they miss the opportunity to channel that energy, they may turn to negative activities,” he said.
Mr Mwangi commended the MP for supporting youth empowerment programmes and urged him to continue expanding opportunities in music, acting, sports and other creative fields.
Mr Waithaka said the talent initiative was part of a wider development agenda that includes education, digital skills and infrastructure.
He highlighted the constituency’s investment in schools, saying the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) had adopted a comprehensive approach to school renovations.
He said the programme involved upgrading classrooms, replacing roofs, installing new floors and tiles, improving sanitation facilities and enhancing school security.
The MP said the improvements were intended to provide learners with a conducive environment that promotes confidence, discipline and academic achievement.
He cited the ongoing construction of Kirigiti Primary School, which he said was being developed after the constituency identified a gap in access to primary education.
Mr Waithaka said four acres of land had been secured from the Ministry of Interior for the school, which was launched recently in the presence of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
He said construction was expected to resume, with the project intended to provide a new primary school for the area.
The legislator also said Kiambu day secondary school learners had benefited from a free education programme for the second consecutive year.
He said the initiative covered school fees, porridge, remedial lessons and tuition, urging parents to ensure their children took advantage of the support.
The MP said the constituency was also investing in digital skills training at the Ndumberi ICT Hub, where young people were being equipped with computer skills and trained in online work.
He said the programmes were designed to enable young people to access employment opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings, including international online markets.
Mr Waithaka said the talent competition would be expanded in future editions, giving more young people opportunities to pursue their interests and build sustainable careers.
He urged participants to remain committed to their talents, saying those who did not win had another opportunity to improve and compete in subsequent editions.
The initiative, he said, was intended to create a generation of confident, skilled and responsible young people capable of contributing to the country’s development.
