The Kwale County Commissioner (CC), Karuku Ngumo has urged area residents to support the National Hygiene Programme (NHP) dubbed “Kazi Mtaani” aimed at improving urban infrastructure and service delivery within informal settlements.
Ngumo said the county has enlisted 1000 youth who are taking part in the clean-up campaign in the sub counties of Matuga and Msambweni.
He said the programme is aimed at empowering the jobless youth with some income in the face of the coronavirus.
Speaking in his office on Monday, the CC said the youth are earning a daily wage of Sh.600 while undertaking duties such as street cleaning, fumigation and disinfection, garbage collection, bush clearance and drainage unclogging services.
Ngumo announced that they have received 1,215 pairs of gumboots and 1,750 pairs of gloves from the national government to be distributed to the youth undertaking the rapid environment improvements and sanitation management.
The Kwale county executive committee member for Public Service, Sylvia Chidodo hailed the youth initiative, saying the coastal county is getting a facelift through the massive clean-up effort.
Chidodo said involving the youth in such activities is important as it paves the way for them to effectively participate in national social-economic development.
She said besides creating temporary employment, the programme will also deter young people from engaging in criminal activities during these hard economic times occasioned by the novel pandemic.
By Hussein Abdullahi
