This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
As the Kazi Mtaani initiative continues to roll out across the country, concerns over the meager pay of participating youths have come to the forefront.
According to various reports, the daily wages for these youths have been a subject of debate, with some sources claiming they receive as little as Sh90 per day, while others put the figure at Sh200.
However, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, Charles Hinga Mwaura, has clarified the matter, stating that the youths are paid Sh455 per day, with supervisors receiving Sh505.
Speaking on the matter, Mwaura explained that the National Hygiene Program, Kazi Mtaani, has been running across 47 counties, with over 1,000 settlements, since its launch in July 2020.
He further denied claims that youths in Uasin Gishu received less pay than expected, stating that payments were processed for the three days of work between July 15th and 17th, with those who worked for three days receiving a total of Sh1,365, and those who worked for two days receiving Sh910.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has also weighed in on the matter, criticizing the initiative for assigning youths to rudimentary tasks such as slashing bushes and clearing drainage, which he claims are not impactful and do not provide a decent wage.
“Kazi Mtaani should be put to better use. Let our youth build something. Let them construct roads and toilets that will last longer than a month,” Mutua advised.
Launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kazi Mtaani program aims to provide social protection to workers whose daily or casual work has been disrupted by containment policies.
