Ruto abolishes ‘outdated’ Kazi Mtaani initiative
By Hilary KimuyuPresident William Ruto has abolished the Kazi Mtaani initiative saying it was outdated.
The president was speaking on Tuesday at the ground-breaking of Soweto East Zone B Social Housing in Kibra, Nairobi County.
The Head of State promised to include the youth to contribute towards the affordable housing plan in the country through the Juakali industry.
“Kazi Mtaani is outdated now, the work now is building these houses, and the first people to get jobs in this project will be from Kibra,” he said.
He added that the number of youths being employed under the kazi mtaani program was minimal.
Kazi Mtaani is a national initiative that was launched in April 2020 to cushion the most vulnerable but able-bodied citizens living in informal settlements from the effects and response strategies of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It targeted unemployed residents of informal settlements aged over 18 and below 35 and affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over 280,000 youths were employed from 1,100 informal settlements in the 47 counties during the first and second phases of the program,
In a country where 75 percent of the population is aged below 35 years, Kenya continues to grapple with high rates of unemployment.
The program was unveiled as a form of social protection initiative to cushion the youth and vulnerable citizens in informal settlements from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Beneficiaries operate on two shifts, each working for 11 days a month.
They earn Sh455 per day, while supervisors earn Sh505 daily.
Nairobi County recorded the highest number of registrations with 179,000, followed by Kiambu 78,000 and Nakuru 60,000.
Elgeyo Marakwet recorded the lowest with 8,036, Lamu 8,105 and Samburu 9,679.
During his campaign for the August 9 general elections, President Ruto then DP, distanced himself from the Kazi Mtaani initiative saying the young people deserve better jobs from the government.
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