The Kenyan government has officially revived the Kazi Mtaani program under a new banner — the Climate Workx Youth Employment Initiative — set to roll out by the end of June 2025. The initiative is designed to benefit 113,000 young Kenyans, who will be employed in various manual labour and public infrastructure maintenance roles for six months.
This renewed push to address youth unemployment in Kenya comes with a hefty Ksh.5 billion funding package from the Ministry of Roads and will operate in 46 counties, with the exception of Nairobi County. Authorities say Nairobi is already benefiting from a separate youth employment program that currently engages more than 20,000 young people.
Focus on Low-Income Families
According to the announcement made jointly by Principal Secretaries (PS) Charles Hinga (Housing), Raymond Omollo (Interior), and Joseph Mbugua (Roads), the selection criteria will favour applicants aged 20–35 years from low-income households. Additionally, only one applicant per household will be allowed to join, ensuring a wider reach across vulnerable communities.
“We’re targeting low-income personalities aged between 20-35 with an aim of improving their livelihoods,” PS Hinga stated during a press briefing.
The recruitment exercise will be rolled out through a hybrid process involving both online applications and manual vetting at the grassroots level. Youths from the eligible counties have 10 days to register online, after which they will undergo a manual screening process led by local chiefs and assistant chiefs.
This decision aligns with the government’s emphasis on transparency and grassroots involvement, a step that PS Omollo believes will minimize political interference and promote fairness.
“We have had a well-coordinated program in Nairobi that seals all loopholes such as politicians’ interference,” PS Omollo emphasized.
Scope of Work: Pathways, Bridges, and Public Cleanups
The Climate Workx Youth Employment Initiative will include physical tasks such as the clearing of footpaths, construction and maintenance of small bridges, drainage cleaning, and environmental conservation efforts. The government hopes that this approach will not only offer temporary employment but also improve public infrastructure and environmental resilience at the community level.
“The works will involve pathways too… bridges…” added PS Mbugua, hinting at the physical nature of the assignments.
A Political Turnaround: Ruto Embraces Program He Once Opposed
The reintroduction of Kazi Mtaani marks a significant policy reversal for President William Ruto, who had previously criticized the initiative during his tenure as Deputy President. When he assumed the presidency in 2022, he scrapped the program, calling it inefficient and unsustainable.
However, with rising youth unemployment and economic pressure across the country, the Ruto administration appears to have reconsidered its stance. Now rebranded under the Climate Workx umbrella, the program returns with a more structured framework and a broader vision that aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
This shift comes during the mid-term of President Ruto’s administration, suggesting a strategic move to regain public support, particularly among the youth, who make up the majority of the voting population.
Who Can Apply and How?
To qualify for the Climate Workx initiative, applicants must:
- Be Kenyan citizens aged 20–35
- Come from low-income backgrounds
- Be physically fit and able to perform manual labor
- Be residents of one of the 46 eligible counties
- Not have any other member of their household already enrolled in the program
Applicants are advised to register online within the 10-day window provided. After this, manual recruitment will be carried out in person under the supervision of chiefs and assistant chiefs. This community-led approach is designed to ensure that needy individuals, not politically connected ones, benefit from the initiative.
While details on the exact daily wages or working hours are yet to be disclosed, the previous Kazi Mtaani program paid around Ksh.450 per day, which provided critical financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Step Toward Climate Resilience and Economic Inclusion
Unlike its predecessor, the Climate Workx program is not just about short-term jobs. It’s also aligned with the green economy, seeking to build climate-resilient communities through environmental conservation activities such as tree planting, erosion control, and waste management.
This gives the initiative a dual-purpose identity — tackling youth joblessness while contributing to sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to climate action and clean communities.
Public Reactions and Expectations
Reactions to the announcement have been mixed. Many young people from rural counties have expressed excitement over the prospect of gaining temporary work, especially amid high cost of living. However, some have raised concerns about transparency, fairness, and long-term sustainability.
Community leaders and civil society groups are urging the government to ensure proper monitoring, timely payments, and a clear exit strategy for the beneficiaries at the end of the 6-month period.
As the online registration portal opens, thousands of hopeful youths are expected to apply, with anticipation running high that this time, the initiative will deliver on its promise of empowering marginalized communities through dignified and meaningful work.