By Levin Kiprop
The government has officially reintroduced the Kazi Mtaani program under a new banner—Climate Workx Youth Employment Initiative—as part of its renewed effort to address youth unemployment in Kenya.
Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations, President William Ruto announced the return of the program, with a sharpened focus on climate action and urban development. Just days later, the government has launched the online registration portal for Climate Workx, signaling the start of the ambitious rollout.
According to Charles Hinga, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, the registration process opened this week and will remain active for 10 days. Over 110,000 youths are expected to benefit from the initiative.
“The portal is now formally open, and we are asking young people to register in large numbers,” said PS Hinga. “After the 10-day registration window, recruitment will begin, which will include validation by National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) and Nyumba Kumi teams.”
Hinga added that the recruitment and verification process is expected to take about one week. Within 15 days or before the end of June, the selected individuals will begin work under the program.
Recognizing the potential technological challenges facing some applicants, Hinga emphasized that support will be available at local chiefs’ offices, where government-provided gadgets will be used to assist youth who cannot access the online portal.
“We still encourage them to go to the chief’s place. We have provided the chiefs, assistant chiefs, and their teams with some gadgets,” he noted.
Once deployed, beneficiaries of Climate Workx will be supervised by officers from the National Youth Service (NYS). Each participant will earn a daily wage of Ksh 500, while NYS supervisors will receive Ksh 550 per day.
To streamline payments, the government has made M-Pesa the primary payment platform. Applicants are therefore required to register using active SIM cards to ensure a smooth transaction process.
“This digital registration is crucial for transparency and to ensure integrity in the program,” said Hinga.
The government has also introduced a policy to ensure equitable distribution of opportunities: only one individual per household will be eligible to participate in the Climate Workx program.
National and county governments will collaborate in vetting applicants and overseeing implementation, ensuring that the program reaches the most deserving and vulnerable youth.
Climate Workx is expected to contribute not only to youth employment but also to environmental conservation and urban resilience, aligning with Kenya’s broader green development agenda.
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