On February 11, 2025, MWAK members, led by Chairperson Mrs. Grace Kahariri, hosted Family Bank Limited Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Nancy Njau, and her counterpart, the Executive Director of Family Group Foundation Director, Mr. John Waimiri, for a courtesy visit at MWAK Headquarters.
The purpose of the visit was to discuss the ongoing partnership between the two organizations and review the progress of the joint projects aimed at empowering the families of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel.
Mrs. Kahariri took a moment to express her appreciation to Family Bank Limited for its continuous efforts in improving the lives of KDF dependents through the Tufuzu Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program, which was launched in 2023.
“This partnership has had a profound impact on the young adults within KDF families,” Mrs. Kahariri remarked. “Through this initiative, they have gained valuable skills that not only help them penetrate the job market but also enhance their interpersonal skills, which are essential for their overall social development.”
She further noted that, she placed a request, through the office of the Chief of Defence Forces, General Charles Kahariri for DEFTEC assistance in putting up structures for the MWAK TVET initiative.
The Deputy Principal DEFTEC, Col (Dr) John Kisilu noted that one of the proposed areas he foresees DEFTEC supporting, is providing teaching staff and accreditations, which may enable expansion of the scope to reach more including the special needs category.
The CEO Family Bank Ltd, Ms. Nancy Njau highlighted that the success of the project stems from the shared commitment of both organizations to youth empowerment.
Her sentiments were echoed by Mr. Waimiri, who noted that the acquired skills would not only prepare the students for employment but also equip them with the confidence and capability to venture into entrepreneurship,an increasingly valuable path in today’s competitive job market.
Since the partnership’s inception, two cohorts totaling 100 beneficiaries have successfully graduated from the program. These graduates have received accredited certificates from NITA and the National Construction Authority of Kenya.
Additionally, they were placed in various institutions for a three-month internship program, which provided a platform for them to apply both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in real-world settings.
Currently a six-month course is ongoing which was launched on January 17, 2025, for 100 Kenya Navy dependents, further expanding the initiative’s reach.
MWAK hosted a follow-up meeting on January 12, 2025, with Colonel (Dr.) John Kisilu and Dr. Margret Mwakima, a former Principal Secretary of TVET Ministry of Education, to further discuss various ways of solidifying the partnership.
The meeting resulted in a unanimous decision to form a taskforce that will develop a more robust TVET training program tailored for military families.
