This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
July 2, 2020 - Nairobi, Kenya - President Uhuru Kenyatta has cautioned against any form of political interference in the national roll-out of the Kazi Mtaani youth employment program.
The President made the remarks on Thursday at the close of a two-day training workshop on Kazi Mtaani for Regional and County Commissioners at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
According to the President, the initiative was designed to assist Kenyan youth whose livelihoods had been disrupted by the Covid-19 health crisis.
“The program will be free of any political interference. It’ll not be a process which politicians will use to get votes,” President Kenyatta said.
The national roll-out of the youth employment initiative will start on Monday next week, following the successful pilot phase of the program in eight counties.
President Kenyatta regretted that similar interventions in the past were mismanaged and directed Regional and County Commissioners to take full control of the program.
“Many of you will recall that a similar program was unfortunately abused. I have to be very clear with you, we will not entertain abuse this time around,” the President said.
He charged Regional and County Commissioners with the responsibility of ensuring transparency in the recruitment of the youth into the program and warned against nepotism.
“Recruit people who are in need and not brothers, sisters or cousins. This money should only help people who are in real need. The first test for you will be the recruitment,” the President told the administrators.
