The popular Kazi Mtaani initiative, originally introduced by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, is set to make a comeback following President William Ruto's announcement during a development tour of Nakuru County on Monday, July 15, 2024.
The program, which was initially rolled out by Kenyatta to address youth unemployment, offers casual jobs such as cleaning and maintaining public infrastructure, with participants receiving a daily stipend.
In his address to the people, President Ruto stated that he had heard the appeals of Kenyans and would reintegrate the program to continue providing opportunities for unemployed citizens.
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“There are women here who have told me they want Kazi Mtaani. In that Kazi Mtaani, I have said starting next week, 500 people will be working here under that plan,” he announced.
“This is so that we can make sure more young people can get employment opportunities.”
However, the head of state did not immediately clarify whether the program would be expanded nationwide or restricted to Nakuru County alone.
Ruto had initially discontinued the program in September 2022, claiming that the former administration had used it to squander public resources. He argued that the government could redirect those resources to create more dignified opportunities for Kenyan youth.
At that time, Kazi Mtaani recruited 500 youth from each ward on a contractual basis. Upon completion of their contracts, the teams would be replaced by a new group of participants.
