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More than 110,000 unemployed youths will be recruited beginning this week under the Climate WorX programme, to be implemented across all counties.
President William Ruto, who on Sunday outlined several job creation interventions by his administration, said the project will begin in informal settlements, where youths will be engaged in delivering vital public goods such as road construction, tree planting, and the improvement of environmental sanitation within their communities.
Climate WorX seeks to leverage sustainable Extended Public Works Projects (EPWPs) to provide employment and daily wages to low-income earners reliant on daily wages from casual work, particularly those in informal settlements.
Structured as a social protection programme, it was launched last year in Nairobi and has since recorded significant success.
“Through Climate Worx, we are not just offering a paycheck for today; we are providing financial relief and a bridge to future opportunities, enabling young people to pursue their next steps, whether in launching a business, furthering their education, or stepping into long-term employment”, he announced during Madaraka Day celebrations held in Homa Bay county.
NYOTA World Bank Project
Additionally, the head of state also announced financial grants for 800,000 youth aged 18–29 years and up to 35 years for those with disabilities under the National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project sponsored by World Bank.
The NYOTA Project, which leverages the Hustler Fund platform, has already attracted over 1 million applicants for its business support component. It will also enhance employability for the beneficiaries through skills training, on-the-job experience, recognition of prior learning, entrepreneurial development, and the promotion of a savings culture.
“This initiative targets at least 70 youth per ward across the country, offering grant funding, business training, and market linkages. We have committed Ksh 5 billion in grants to support 100,000 young people, each receiving Ksh 50,000 in seed capital to start their entrepreneurial journey by August this year”, he explained.
He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to empowering the youth, highlighting their vital role in the economy and their vast potential for creativity and innovation.
