The Hola Municipality has introduced a Kazi Mtaani program, to cushion the youth from the vagaries of Covid-19.
Tana River has borrowed a leaf from the National Hygiene Program (NHP). The program was designed to cushion the most vulnerable youth living in informal settlements from the effects and response strategies of Covid-19.
Youth will undertake bush clearing, garbage collection; maintain the Hola recreational park and street cleaning.
The 12-month hygiene program has employed 300 youth drawn from the Hola Municipality. The youth work for two and a half hours every day except Saturdays and Sundays, they are receiving Ksh5, 000 monthly.
Speaking in his office, Hola Municipality Manager, Jacob Jara, said the Kazi Mtaani program was necessitated by job losses as a result of Covid-19 containment measures.
“The Government has allocated Sh14M in its budget for the sole purpose of employing the youth for the Kazi Mtaani. They will ensure our town is clean and trees planted,” said the Hola Municipality Manager.
Bakari Morowa, a beneficiary of the program, extolled the Hola Municipality for coming up with the initiative. He, however, urged the government to increase their wages.
A total of 2,891 youth in Tana River benefitted from the National Government’s Kazi Mtaani main program.
By Sadik Hassan
