Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi has expressed his approval of President William Ruto’s decision to abolish Kazi Mtaani programme across the country.
Kazi Mtaani was introduced in April 2020 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to cushion unemployed youth living in informal settlements in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the head of state abolished it on Tuesday, October 25 saying that his government was exploring better employment programmes.
While speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, on Thursday, October 27, Governor Wamatangi said the president’s move was justified because the Kazi Mtaani project did not achieve its goals.
“If you want to impact our youth with skills and long-term value, this is not the way to do it. That is not the way to apply the resources that you have in your hands usefully for the gains of young people,” stated Wamatangi.
While comparing it to a similar project previously rolled out in Kiambu, Wamatangi noted that the programme only gave the youth money to spend on alcohol while claiming to rescue them from unemployment and alcoholism.
“In Kiambu, one of the governors attempted to introduce something that looked like the Kazi Mtaani program when we had the alcoholism problem among our young people. It was called Kaa Sober, and he gathered all these men and sent them to the river to clean the riverbanks, sent them to a quarry and the roads,” said Wamatangi.
“It was not useful because at the end of the day, one would get the money, go home and drink some more while it was presumed that the money would help them.” He added.
Moreover, President Ruto while abolishing Kazi Mtaani said the project had low income and limited opportunities for the youth compared to his Housing proposal, which would upscale the number of youths.
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The head of state further reassured Kibera residents that they would be given the priority in the oncoming project, adding that he had directed governors to plan for similar initiatives across all towns in the country.
“Wakati tunapanga hii kazi, si kwa sababu tunahitaji nyumba pekee yake, tunapanga kwa sababu pia inatupatia nafasi ya ajira. During this project, we will have opportunities for 2500 youths from this area. Mlikuwa mnaajiriwa watu 500 kwa Ward totalling to 2500. The 2500 people will assist in building the houses…Tukianzisha Soweto C na Soweto D hao ni watu five thousand,” said President Ruto.
