Tana River County Commissioner Thomas Sankei has urged beneficiaries of Kazi Mtaani to be peace ambassadors as the country gears up for a general election in August.
The County Commissioner was speaking in Mikinduni ward when he launched phase three of the National Hygiene Programme (NHP) targeting 5,443 workers and 183 supervisors.
Sankei revealed that the youths would be assigned mentors to equip them with knowledge in peace and conflict resolution.
“The main aim is as we work, we talk to each other by having mentors; we want you to be the peace ambassadors in the areas you will be working. I want you to be a person who will be able to resolve conflicts that occur often,” said the County Commissioner.
He was speaking to youths who were eagerly waiting for the launching of the programme designed by the government in 2020 to cushion vulnerable youth from the effects and response strategies of COVID-19.
Sankei urged them to denounce resource-based conflict which is synonymous with Tana between the pastoralists and farming communities and advised them to be exemplary to others by living and working harmoniously.
“We will have ample time to have conversations that will lead us to a society with sound morals, we want our youths to be the lead agents in issues of integrity, peace building, and conflict resolutions,” he said.
The programme has been extended to cover all the 15 wards in Tana River, unlike the first phase which enrolled 2891 youth living in Hola municipality. The youth will receive daily wages of Sh455 for workers and Sh555 for supervisors.
Robert Buya, a beneficiary from the Mikinduni ward, appealed to the government to not only extend the programme epoch but to also ensure permanency since many youths were jobless.
“The programme will reduce cases of drug and alcohol abuse as the youth will be busy working. The cost of living has skyrocketed in the past three months through Kazi Mtaani we will be able to improve our livelihoods,” said Abdalla Komora.
On her part, Mwana Baraka Abdalla said the proceeds from the work would enable her to cater to her school-going children’s needs. She however urged the government to increase the number of beneficiaries in Tana River.
By Sadik Hassan
