By Janet Philip
In a major policy shift, President William Ruto has announced the revival of the Kazi Mtaani programme, aimed at combating youth unemployment and offering skills development opportunities across Kenya.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations, the president emphasized the renewed importance of the initiative in uplifting young people, especially those from informal settlements.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce the revival of Kazi Mtaani,” President Ruto declared to a cheering crowd. “This program will empower our youth with meaningful work and hope for a better tomorrow.”
Originally launched in 2020 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in response to the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kazi Mtaani provided temporary employment to thousands of young people. Workers were engaged in urban sanitation, infrastructure maintenance, and other community-enhancing projects.
However, in 2022, President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration shelved the programme, instead prioritizing the Affordable Housing plan, which he said would generate more sustainable jobs. At the time, Ruto labeled Kazi Mtaani as outdated and redirected youth workers toward housing construction projects, particularly in Nairobi's Kibra area.
The renewed rollout, which comes after a shift in government strategy, will see more than 110,000 youth recruited starting next week. They will be engaged in tasks such as cleaning cobbled streets, constructing feeder roads, planting trees, and improving living conditions in disadvantaged communities.
“This change in direction recognizes the urgent need for multi-faceted job creation strategies, especially for the youth who face the greatest economic hardships,” Ruto said.
The initiative is expected to run for the next five years, focusing on providing both income and marketable skills to young people from vulnerable backgrounds.
The revival of Kazi Mtaani reflects a growing recognition by the government of the need to diversify employment strategies to address the country’s high youth unemployment rate, and it is hoped that this move will complement ongoing national development projects.
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