More than 2,000 young people in central Kajiado sub-county have benefited from the national hygiene and sanitation program known as “Kazi Mtaani”.

The “Kazi Mtaani” program which will run for three months (June-August), will see a total of 2,067 young people from Kajiado Central recruited to undertake manual labor in Kajiado town and surrounding areas.

Speaking at the launch of the third phase, Kajiado Central County (DCC) Deputy Commissioner Harun Kamau said the program which started in 2020, was designed by the government, to protect young people from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kamau noted that the pandemic had affected thousands of people as many businesses closed, rendering them jobless.

The DCC revealed that the recruits will be tasked with manual labor in public places such as: garbage collection, planting trees, clearing brush and unclogging sewer lines, landscaping among others and will receive a weekly allowance to empower them economically.

He said the third phase shifts will be split into nine working days, with each worker earning 455 shillings and supervisors earning 505 shillings a day.

“In central Kajiado sub-county, a total of 2,067 young people will participate in the Kazi Mtaani program for the next three months starting in June and they will receive a stipend to enable them to support their families,” Kamau said.

The Administrator challenged the public to maintain a clean environment by ensuring proper waste disposal. “Cleanliness starts with you, let’s all make sure we maintain a clean environment by disposing of waste including plastics in bins,” he said.

He further urged the public to maintain peaceful co-existence even as the country heads towards national elections in August.

“We are in an election period and I want to call on all residents to maintain peace during and after the elections. Elections come and go and we all need to live together and avoid being instigated against each other,” the DCC said.

Youths from Kajiado town who swarmed KCB grounds for the launch, hailed the government’s decision to revive the scheme, adding that it would enable them to meet their basic needs.

The young people, most of whom come from informal settlements and poor backgrounds, said the program was timely as it would protect them from economic hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Jane Soipan, a resident of the Majengo slums, said she used the grant she earned in phases one and two to start a poultry project, which is currently doing well and she was delighted with the launch of the third phase.

Soipan urged young people to enroll in the program to earn an income and at the same time keep them busy to avoid indulging in drug addiction and crime.

“Kazi Mtaani really helped me when he started as I managed to start a poultry project with the savings I made. I am happy that he is back as he will help many unemployed young people to earn an income and provide for their families,” she said.

Another youngster, Michael Njuguna, who lost his job last year, said he was happy the government had taken the youngster into account and would save the money he would earn within three months, to enable him to start a business.

The first phase of the Kazi Mtaani started in April 2020 as a pilot program and focused on selected informal settlements in eight counties in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kwale and Mandera.

The second phase has been extended to cover 34 counties, where the Treasury has allocated Sh. 10 billion for the exercise. More than 200,000 young people were then hired.

The Kazi Mtaani Phase III will be implemented in 900 informal settlements in the 47 counties.

By Rop Janet