This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
May 20, 2020 - The National Hygiene Initiative, dubbed 'Kazi Mtaani', has taken off with about 26,000 youth recruited as cohorts in the informal settlements in various parts of Nairobi County.
The programme, spearheaded by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, under the National Hygiene Programme (NHP), aims to integrate jobless Kenyan youth in undertaking urban hygiene and sanitation works across 23 informal settlements countrywide.
A joint tour by a multiagency team from Nairobi County on Tuesday of selected informal settlement areas where the programme is being piloted in Mathare, Korogocho, Mukuru, and Kibera found a majority of the youth in support of the programme, saying it would help them meet their basic needs, particularly during the hard economic times of Covid-19.
Speaking at various sites, Director of Administration in the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Mr. Paul Famba, said the programme is meant to cushion vulnerable youth in informal settlements by providing them an income, given most youth have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As I commend you for the good work you are doing in cleaning your environment, I urge you to always maintain high standards of hygiene. Do not misuse the money you will get from Kazi Mtaani on alcohol,” warned Famba.
Nairobi County Commissioner Flora Mworoa called on the youth to embrace discipline, noting that the government started the initiative to empower them economically, hence they should use the opportunity wisely.
