Narok County government in conjunction with the national Government is set to employ 3,266 youths under Kazi Mtaani programme, a move that will see the recruited youth earn a total of Sh.16.4million per month.
Speaking during a meeting in his office on Monday with the Deputy County Commissioners, County Government officials and other government officials who will spearhead the programme, the County Commissioner (CC), Samuel Kimiti said Kazi Mtaani programme targets jobless young people, with the aim of keeping them engaged in a gainful activity.
He said that the programme will help cushion the residents from the economic effects of Covid-19 and ensure improved hygiene and sanitation.
“We intend to engage the most vulnerable members of the community in order to help put some money in their pockets,” Kimiti said.
The administrator said only one youth will be selected per family and has to be the most vulnerable families in the community and have not benefitted from any other government subsidy programmes such as any of the cash transfers.
The successful applicants in the programme which starts immediately will be selected and vetted by selection committees at sub-location, location and county level.
The recruited teams will work for 11 days per month on rotation where they will earn Sh.455 per day paid after 11 working days.
They will be engaged in general cleaning, clearing of bushes, unclogging drainages among other tasks in selected slums in the county and a bit of construction and building works.
Kimiti said the county government will provide the necessary working tools such wheelbarrows, while National Youth Service or identified youth champion will do the supervision of the youth who will be engaged for six months.
The Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ukur Yatani recently set aside Sh. 10 Billion this financial year (FY) which started on July 1, 2020 and ends on June 30, 2021 under Kazi Mtaani programme targeting unemployed youths in the country.
The CS made the announcement when reading the 2020-21 FY Budget estimated at Sh.2.79 trillion.
The Kazi Mtaani programme was piloted in eight selected counties. The programme was launched by the President on April 25, this year targeting youths in slums from the eight counties.
The programme was first rolled out in 28 slums in Kiambu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Mandera, Kilifi and Kisumu on pilot basis.
The country has a huge number of youth who are unemployed and the number has increased after the coronavirus hit the nation.
Many industries were forced to reduce their workers and others were closed as Covid -19 pandemic set in in the month of March this year.
The government through the Ministry of Interior is now rolling out Phase Two of the National Hygiene Programme, known as Kazi Mtaani which targets the youth.
The programme will run for six months in all the 47 counties and will see more than 278,000 youths benefit from the social protection programme.
By Mabel Keya-Shikuku
