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In a bold and strategic move to combat youth unemployment and promote environmental sustainability, the Government of Kenya has officially announced the return of the popular youth employment program, Kazi Mtaani. The new phase of the initiative will be implemented under a broader and more impactful framework known as ClimateWorkx. This enhanced program aims not only to provide short-term employment but also to instill a sense of national pride, impart critical life skills, and create long-term opportunities for economic self-reliance among the youth.

Starting 3rd June 2025, the government plans to engage more than 110,000 young Kenyans, aged between 18 and 35 years, in various tasks including cleaning urban centers, constructing small roads, planting trees, improving sanitation, and enhancing the living conditions of poor neighborhoods.

This nationwide program, overseen by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and coordinated by the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), will be implemented at the grassroots level, targeting youth directly within their communities. It offers a promising opportunity to create green jobs, stimulate local economies, and equip young people with the experience and exposure necessary to transition into more sustainable livelihoods.

According to government officials, “It’s about helping our youth get skills to start businesses, go back to school, or find better jobs.”

The ClimateWorkx Framework

Kazi Mtaani has been revamped and embedded within the ClimateWorkx initiative—a strategic national program that links economic empowerment with climate action. This new model brings together the urgent need for youth employment with the equally pressing mandate to respond to the global climate crisis through localized action.

By incorporating environmental stewardship into daily tasks, ClimateWorkx aims to:

• Tackle unemployment and underemployment among youth.
• Strengthen Kenya’s climate resilience through grassroots environmental conservation.
• Create sustainable, dignified, and meaningful work opportunities.
• Foster a generation of young people committed to national development.

This dual focus—employment and environmental sustainability—forms the backbone of the new Kazi Mtaani, making it not just a work opportunity but a movement of youth-led change across the country.

Scope of Work and Key Focus Areas

Recruits under this program will be deployed to perform community-based tasks, grouped into two main functional areas:

1. Environmental Conservation Activities
2. Infrastructure Maintenance and Urban Clean-up

Specific areas of work include:

• Cleaning streets, markets, drainage systems, and informal settlements.
• Constructing and rehabilitating feeder roads, pedestrian paths, and culverts.
• Tree planting and environmental rehabilitation in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
• Setting up and managing seedbeds and community-based tree nurseries.
• Producing seedlings, watering, transplanting, and maintaining green spaces.
• Repairing and maintaining public amenities such as road signage, benches, and waste bins.
• Supporting waste management initiatives through sorting and recycling.
• Engaging in sensitization campaigns on hygiene, climate change, and national values.

All these activities are designed not only to improve living conditions but also to nurture a generation of environmentally conscious and socially responsible citizens.

Employment Structure and Program Design

The Kazi Mtaani ClimateWorkx initiative will operate in structured cycles to ensure wide participation, discipline, and maximum impact.

1. Youth Workers

This is the primary level of recruitment. Youth workers will perform manual and semi-skilled tasks across the program’s focus areas.

Responsibilities:

• Engage in daily physical work as assigned by field officers.
• Clean roads, streets, drainage channels, and public spaces.
• Plant trees and manage nursery operations including watering and weeding.
• Support local waste management efforts.
• Attend personal development sessions during off-weeks.
• Follow health and safety guidelines at the worksite.
• Maintain government tools and equipment in good condition.
• Submit to daily attendance records and routine monitoring by supervisors.

Work Cycle and Duration:

• Youth will be divided into two rotating cohorts.
• Each cohort will work for 10 weekdays (Monday–Friday) consecutively.
• After each 10-day work cycle, the cohort will break for rest and attend training sessions focused on civic education, values, and entrepreneurship.

Payment Structure:

• Workers will be paid KES 500 per day.
• Payments will be disbursed through M-Pesa following the completion of each 10-day cycle.
• Youth are advised to avoid Fuliza or overdrafts to ensure timely payment processing.

2. Supervisors

Supervisors will play a critical leadership and administrative role. They will coordinate work teams and act as the first point of contact between workers and implementing agencies.

Responsibilities:

• Manage teams of youth workers and assign daily duties.
• Supervise task completion and ensure safety compliance.
• Keep accurate attendance and payment records.
• Prepare and submit daily reports to KeRRA/KURA/NGAO officers.
• Conduct tool inventory and usage audits.
• Help resolve on-ground issues and escalate concerns where necessary.
• Mentor and coach youth teams on discipline, timekeeping, and work ethic.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Must be aged 18–35 years.
• Must be a resident of the local community.
• Priority will be given to former NYS (National Youth Service) recruits and other experienced youth with leadership or public service backgrounds.
• Basic communication and record-keeping skills are desirable.
• Must demonstrate leadership potential and community engagement capacity.

Payment:

• Supervisors will receive KES 550 per day, paid through M-Pesa after each cycle.

Special Program Guidelines and Principles

To ensure fairness, transparency, and national cohesion, the following rules will guide recruitment and implementation:

1. Gender Parity (50:50 Rule)

The program will enforce a strict gender balance, with equal slots reserved for male and female youth. This measure promotes inclusion and reflects the government’s policy on gender equality in national programs.

2. Disability Inclusion (30%)

A significant 30% of all available positions are reserved for persons living with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply. Support mechanisms will be provided to ensure their full and dignified participation.

3. One Applicant Per Household Rule

To maximize outreach and impact, only one youth per household will be allowed to participate. This ensures the benefits of the program reach as many households as possible.

4. Village-Based Recruitment

Recruitment will be conducted at the village level through the coordination of Assistant Chiefs, Nyumba Kumi leaders, and community elders. No relocation is required, and all selected youth will work within their localities.

Local leaders have been instructed to use village barazas, door-to-door visits, and religious gatherings to inform and mobilize eligible applicants.

5. Developmental Training During Off-Weeks

When youth are not actively working on-site, they will be engaged in training and personal development forums. These sessions will focus on:

• Civic education and national values
• Entrepreneurship and financial literacy
• Mental health and social wellness
• Environmental conservation and sustainability
• Leadership and conflict resolution

6. Tools and Equipment

All necessary tools for assigned work (e.g., hoes, slashers, wheelbarrows, watering cans, gloves) will be supplied by the government. Workers are responsible for the care and proper use of these tools. Misuse or negligence will lead to disciplinary action or expulsion from the program.

7. Code of Conduct

All participants are expected to:

• Report on time and work diligently.
• Respect fellow workers, supervisors, and the community.
• Uphold discipline and avoid misconduct or absenteeism.
• Adhere strictly to health, safety, and environmental protocols.
• Use government resources responsibly.

Recruitment Priority Areas

While all eligible youth can apply, the following groups will be given priority consideration:

• Ex-NYS graduates
• Persons living with disabilities
• Youth from informal settlements and vulnerable neighborhoods
• Female-headed households
• Youth not in education, employment, or training (NEETs)

Why Kazi Mtaani Matters

Kazi Mtaani is more than just a job creation program. It represents a shift in how the country empowers its youth. At its core, it is about building dignity through work, creating platforms for leadership and service, and unlocking the potential of a generation ready to transform Kenya.

By integrating community service with climate action, Kazi Mtaani’s new phase under ClimateWorkx becomes a cornerstone for inclusive national development.

Participants not only earn an income but gain exposure to teamwork, discipline, civic responsibility, and the importance of public service. These are vital ingredients for fostering a more engaged, informed, and capable youth population.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for the Kazi Mtaani ClimateWorkx program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Kenyan citizen aged 18 to 35 years
• Be unemployed or underemployed
• Be a resident of the target village or neighborhood
• Commit to working full-time for the 10-day shifts
• Demonstrate willingness to perform manual work
• Agree to abide by program rules and ethical standards

How to Apply

Applications for the Kazi Mtaani ClimateWorkx program are open starting Tuesday, 3rd June 2025.

Applicants must submit their details via an online portal provided by the government. The portal is mobile-friendly and can be accessed on smartphones, computers, or local cybercafés.

Information required during application includes:

• Full name (as per ID)
• ID number
• Mobile phone number (M-Pesa registered)
• Age and gender
• County, sub-county, ward, and village
• Household status (confirming one applicant per household)
• Disability status (if applicable)
• NYS status (for those applying as supervisors)
• Education level
• Current employment status

No physical forms will be accepted. All applications must be made online through the designated platform.

Click here to Apply

The Kazi Mtaani ClimateWorkx initiative is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform communities while equipping youth with the tools they need to shape their futures. Whether it’s cleaning up your town, planting the trees of tomorrow, or repairing the roads we all use—this program is about making Kenya better, one youth and one neighborhood at a time.

Do not miss your chance to participate in this impactful national program. Your journey toward growth, service, and a sustainable future begins now.

Apply