Kazi Mtaani: Why we need to rethink the programme which kept youth engaged and fed

The youth in the country are restless. To vent their anger, they have taken to the streets to protest against the government.

They are unhappy that, as they wallow in poverty with opportunities of eking out a living being limited, those in power are oozing opulence, misappropriating resources and offering poor leadership.

“I believe this uprising is the result of years of impunity, corruption, lawlessness, and a continuous disregard for the rule of law. The common citizen has also been neglected,” says Wanjira Wanjiru, a human rights activist at Mathare Social Justice Centre.

Unfortunately, the uprising has led to loss of lives, injuries and destruction of property.

So far, more than 50 people died in the anti-government protests spearheaded by Generation Z and Millennials, who are demanding accountability and good governance.

The riots, which have also left more than 350 injured, were sparked by outrageous taxes contained in the rejected Finance Bill 2024.

Frustrated at having nothing tangible to do to earn a decent living, the youth have been expressing strong sentiments against the government, which they believe has failed to create for them job opportunities.

“It was just young people, driven by their conscience and understanding of right and wrong; coming together to fight economic servitude, tyranny, and bad governance,” says Wanjiru highlighting why the youth need to be engaged in socio-economic activities.

This begs the question of whether it was a prudent move to abolish the Kazi Mtaani programme that put money in the pockets of youth while keeping them busy.

“In fact, some of the issues the youth are raising can be addressed by reviving Kazi Mtaani programme that economically empowered and kept them busy,” said Arnold Maliba, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) strategic communication advisor when he appeared on KTN News’ Inside Politics talk show a few weeks ago.

Maliba still holds the same opinion, insisting that the young people are expressing their views out of frustrations of the limited opportunities.

He is of the view that the youth can be calmed by being engaged through the provision of jobs by the Kazi Mtaani initiative that President William Ruto found outdated after assuming power.

“If you need a quick multiplier that will put money in the pockets of the young people, then Kazi Mtaani is one of the solutions. The programme became unpopular because of its wrong approach to things. Remember it was given the bad tag ‘Kazi kwa vijana, pesa kwa wazee’, and in some instances, it was marred by corruption,” says Maliba.

Maliba believes the protests may not have happened if the Marshall Plan for Employment and Development, launched in 2008 to address issues affecting youth, was implemented. Coming after the post-election violence that rocked the county, the plan was among other issues, unveiled to create jobs, put in place skill development programmes, and support youth-led businesses.

“The protests have presented an opportunity for us to go back and look at that Marshal Planvthat had envisaged all these scenarios; it is time now we rethink the youth policy,” says Maliba.

Although President Ruto may be having a contrary opinion, calls to have the Kazi Mtaani programme reinstated have been gathering momentum, and the Head of State recently witnessed firsthand the level of impatience among citizens.

While on a tour in Nakuru, Dr Ruto was put under pressure by a section of residents who asked him to restart the programme in their city.

Addressing a crowd at the Nakuru Ultra-Modern Market, the president responded by saying he had listened to the residents who wanted the return of the initiative.

“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. This is so that we can make sure more young people can get employment opportunities,” said Dr Ruto.

Last August, Governor Johnson Sakaja made a similar appeal, beseeching the president to reinstate the initiative, which he noted had a positive impact in the capital city.

Speaking during the launch of InnovativeNairobi2023 in South C, Sakaja said the programme had led to a 47 per cent decrease in crime rates in the city where thousands of youth earned an honest living.

Sakaja argued that reinstatement of the initiative would be a step in the right direction at a time when most residents were grappling with the high cost of living.

“We have asked the president to return Kazi Mtaani and if not in the initial form, we can engage in available activities such as growing trees and building houses,” the governor said.

Insecurity challenges

Billed as a stop-gap measure to insecurity challenges in Kenya, the Kazi Mtaani Programme was meant to keep thousands of youths occupied. Launched in April 2020 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to address unemployment due to COVID-19, the programme has been a safety net for many.

The pandemic significantly affected them, especially those working in the informal sector. In response, the government enacted numerous regulations and policies to cushion the vulnerability of women workers in the informal sector, and Kazi Mtaani was one of the measures.

But after being sworn into office on September 13, 2022, Dr William abolished the initiative describing it as outdated. The new president was upbeat his affordable housing programme would employ millions of youth.

“You have told me you want Kazi Mtaani back. Listen to me, Kazi Mtaani is a thing of the past. The work of collecting rubbish and other things; we have moved away from there.

“The work we will be doing is the one of affordable housing,” said Ruto on October 25, 2022, when he launched the affordable housing project in Kibra.

Now, the president is caught in the crosshairs of a youth revolt led by relentless Gen Zs who apart from demanding accountability and good governance, want jobs.