Kazi Mtaani to continue after Covid-19, PS says

The government is making efforts to sustain the recently-launched Kazi Mtaani programme after Covid-19, Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga has said.

The PS said that the initiative meant to cushion youths living in informal settlements in counties worst-hit by Covid-19 will continue even after the pandemic is suppressed.

Hinga spoke on Wednesday during a tour to inspect the project in Kiandutu slums in Thika, Kiambu county. He was accompanied by Governor James Nyoro and Kiambu county commissioner Wilson Wanyanga.

“The government is doing everything to protect jobs and incomes for our youth during this pandemic that has severely ravaged our economy,” Hinga said.

The PS noted that before the next phase of the programme, the three goals of embracing labour, local sourcing of materials and community participation for the public good must be achieved.

The programme was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 25 and has employed over 26,114 youths in slums in eight counties.

The programme was first rolled out in 28 slums in Kiambu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Mandera, Kilifi and Kisumu.

The beneficiaries earn daily wages payable through mobile money transfer weekly.

In the first phase of the programme, the government will spend Sh354 million on payment of wages and production of face masks. 

PS Hinga noted that besides being an income-generating activity for the youths, the programme has addressed common social ills like crime and drugs abuse.

He said phase two of the project will include improvement of road infrastructure, construction of toilets, bus termini, markets and schools among other labour-intensive activities.

Governor Nyoro said that the county government would employ more youths from the slums in its rehabilitation programme set to begin next month.

“We will also be recarpeting roads and installing street lights in Thika CDB and this will give our youths an opportunity to secure employment,” he said.

The Kazi Mtaani programme has already changed the sprawling Kiandutu slums. Heaps of garbage, clogged drainages and dirty streets are no longer the norm of the slums thanks to the initiative.

Edited by Henry Makori