Hundreds of youths continue to protest as the government delays payment of the extended Phase 2 of the Kazi Mtaani Programme.
This comes Permanent Secretary of the State Department of Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga last Thursday disclosed that they are still awaiting funds for the May arrears from the National treasury.
“To all Kazi Mtaani youths, this is to inform you that we are still awaiting the provision of budget for the final payment of the extended phase 2 of this program from the National Treasury. As soon as we receive the funds we will process them without delay. Once again sincere apologies,” he said.
Early this month, some youths were paid the April arrears after the Treasury released the budget.
At the moment, the programme is on a break to allow the closure of the current financial year ending June 30, 2021
A new direction would be given on the way forward in the coming days.
PS Hinga disclosed that it was difficult to explain the cause of the delay without having a concrete response to the many youths across the 47 who had protested over the delay.
The delay of payment is however not taken lightly by the youths across the 47 counties who claim the government does not understand the plights of their suffering.
“You really don't understand the plight of the youth's, life is so unbearable nowadays, Ata Unga imepanda,.. So how do you expect us to survive for the meantime?” said Isaac Otieno.
“And when will be the payment made cause you are owning first and second cohort a total of Sh5005 per every youth since April. Youths are suffering outside here, please make that the payment is done as early as possible,” said Richard Mutei.
“How could the government often delay the provision of such fund after the youths have really struggled??? Eric Okesa questioned.
“The government is not serious we youths are really struggling a lot,” said Esther Nkorote.
The same delay happened in March to all Cohort A Kazi Mtaani youths but was paid after a day.
The National Treasury in February allocated an additional Sh7 billion for the Kazi Mtaani programme to pay thousands of youth and scale up the initiative to cover the affordable housing project.
The youths heaved a sigh of relief after the national government extended the programme in March.
This was after beneficiaries across the country pleaded for an extension and President Uhuru Kenyatta intervened.
The Kazi Mtaani programme employs 283,210 youths as workers and supervisors countrywide for 11 days every month earns Sh455 daily while supervisors take home Sh505 each per day, according to the State Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Payment is via M-Pesa only after Safaricom waived the recovery of Fuliza loans to save indebted youths from the automatic recovery of loans from the earnings.
