ClimateWorX: Inside Gov’t’s Plan to Clean Environment & Employ 20,000 Kenyans

At least 20,000 youths are set to benefit from the ClimateWorX Mtaani Initiative, which officially rolls out on October 1.

The initiative aims to kill two birds with one stone, by rehabilitating the environment while also providing significant employment opportunities for the Kenyan youth.

What is it? The Climate Resilience Service Program (CRSP) initiative, dubbed “Climate WorX” is an employment transition program for youth in Kenya to foster climate resilience and economic recovery by addressing critical needs across the roads and infrastructure.

The program will succeed the Kazi Mtaani Initiative launched by Former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Athough the principles are largely the same, the programme has been strengthened to ensure it is sustainable over the long term and it aligns with President William Ruto’s Climate Change agenda.

With employment being at the forefront of the initiative’s mission, the program has sought to leverage labour-intensive projects to extend job opportunities to vulnerable youth.

Undated photo of social workers cleaning Nairobi River

File

Number of employees: The program will be implemented in 47 counties, with a proposed recruitment of at least 200,000 youths countrywide. A minimum of 1,500 youths will be hired per county.

In terms of activities to be undertaken, the initiative will break them down into three major workstreams; road and infrastructure, environment and Housing and Urban Development.

To break down the activities further, some of the tasks which will be undertaken include rehabilitation of the Nairobi River, tree planting and nursery development, solid waste management and housing projects.

The ClimateWorX will also be anchored in elements like climate resilience, labour-intensive approaches, a pivot approach in terms of preparing the youth for their next ideal prospect in work or education, utilization of existing and redirected funding and provision of equal opportunities.

A recruit employed under the program can expect to take home Ksh 500 per day, with supervisors set to make Ksh 550 daily. Since payments are made bi-weekly, recruits can expect Ksh 7,000 after at the end of their shifts, while supervisors will make Ksh 7,700.

Work Schedule: The recruits will work in shifts, taking two weeks to undertake the project and two weeks off to facilitate a flexible working environment.

This is not the first time the government has attempted a rehabilitation program. In 2006, during the Mwai Kibaki regime, the Nairobi River Basin Programme was birthed and focussed mainly on landscaping, restoring, and beautifying the riparian zones of the Nairobi River.

In 2007, the government partnered the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to attempt to clear waste from the river.

President Ruto becomes the latest Head of State to attempt to reclaim Nairobi River’s lost glory. President Ruto recently outlined an ambitious plan to start a fishing project at the river.
 

A photo of second-hand clothes dumped into Nairobi River at Gikomba market.

Photo

John Mbati