The Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Nadia Ahmed on Monday joined youth in Mvita Sub-County in Mombasa in the on-going Kazi Mtaani programme.
Ms. Ahmed who participated in the cleaning exercise at Swahili Pot lauded the government for initiating the National Hygiene Programme that is aimed at empowering the youth during the Covid-19 pandemic and also improving hygienic standards in the informal settlements.
She said Kazi Mtaani was among many programmes that the government has put in place to empower the youth economically in the country.
The CAS noted that huge investment in those programmes has witnessed significant growth of opportunities and incomes for the young people.
She challenged the youth to embrace the programme which she said would, in the long run, address the problem of unemployment and also help eradicate social vices such drug abuse and other criminal activities.
Mombasa County has enlisted 13, 861 youth for the second phase of the Kazi Mtaani that will see them earning Sh.455 daily.
Since the introduction of the programme in April this year, the coastal city has witnessed a sharp decline of insecurity incidences and improved hygienic standards especially in the informal settlements across the county.
The government initiative engages young people in community service as many of them were idle and involving themselves in criminal activities.
Among the activities carried out were street cleaning, fumigation and disinfection, garbage collection, bush clearing and de-silting of choked gutters and unblocking of sewages among others.
The programme, besides providing employment to the youth, has also promoted health standards and protocols to limit the risk of the infection of the deadly covid-19 in slum areas.
By Mohamed Hassan
