Over three thousand youth in Marsabit Municipality will benefit from the second phase of the national hygiene Programme which is set to start on Monday next week countrywide.
The 3,140 youth to be recruited should be from poor backgrounds and not benefiting from the other government funded social protection initiatives in place, said Marsabit county commissioner Evans Achoki.
Mr. Achoki who briefed the press after holding the county implementation technical committee meeting in his office said both skilled and unskilled youth who meet the set recruitment criteria would be considered for the jobs.
He added that 200 supervisors who would watch over the recruited personnel for the manual jobs would also be engaged.
The county commissioner reiterated the government’s concern about the health of its citizens, adding that the recruits would be required to observe the ministry of health guidelines.
Female and male youth would be accorded equal opportunity to serve in the Programme that will last for six months.
The informal settlements within the municipality that would act as the catchment for the recruitment include Milima-Tatu, Dakabaricha, Nyayo Road and Shauri Yako areas. Others are Manyatta Ote and Majengo areas.
The youths offered the jobs would be engaged in garbage collection and cleaning of Marsabit town, bush clearing and opening of blocked storm water drainage.
Other programs expected to have impact on Marsabit county include planting and nurturing of trees, disinfection of congested public places like the prison, public toilets, hospitals and the local police station.
“The beneficiaries of this socio-economic initiative meant to help mitigate against Covid-19 must possess an identity card and a registered M-Pesa account,” said the CC.
He added that the move was part of the larger plan by the government to stimulate the economy against the vagaries of the Coronavirus and asked the Marsabit Central sub-county implementation committee which is involved in the recruitment to ensure there was transparency and fairness.
Marsabit Municipal manager Boru Golicha pointed out that careless dumping of refuse by town residents was a threat to the environment which the kazi mtaani initiative would strive to address by sensitizing members of the public about proper disposal of garbage.
Mr. Golicha said polluted seasonal waterways would be cleaned to ensure that water collection into pans during the coming rain season is hygienic.
The municipal manager added that the program would also help in addressing the widespread drug abuse menace among local youth because idleness will be checked.
Two secondary schools and three primary schools from the municipality would also benefit from the program where youths will undertake landscaping, bush clearing, repairs and painting.
By Sebastian Miriti
