30,000 MORE YOUTH TO BE HIRED TO CLEAN NAIROBI RIVERS UNDER CLIMATE WORX INITIATIVE

By MyGov Reporter,

The government will increase the number of people hired to clean Nairobi rivers by 30,000 starting next month.

This means that a total of 50,000 people, mainly the youth and women, will be cleaning a 47km stretch of rivers passing through the city, including Nairobi, Mathare, and Ngong’ Rivers.

This will be done through the Climate Worx Initiative, which was designed as a multi-sectoral initiative incorporating efforts from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), National Youth Service (NYS) and the local communities.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, while inspecting the cleaning exercise dubbed the Climate WorX initiative at Mukuru Kwa Reuben said the increase follows overwhelming requests by leaders and residents of other informal settlements.

“We shall increase the number of people working on all our Nairobi rivers to 50,000. The government will consider increasing the daily wages from Sh500 per person after the 50,000 target will have been achieved. PS Omollo and I have come to assess the work that has been done here at Mukuru Kwa Reuben and other areas,” he stated.

The CS expressed satisfaction on the work already done by the 20,000 in the programme, noting that nearly half of the Nairobi River stretch was now fully restored.

Murkomen further said the 30,000 people who voluntarily relocated to give way for the massive cleaning exercise of the riparian ecosystem would be prioritized in the social housing programme being implemented in the area.

“The social housing programme is also part of President Ruto’s agenda of ensuring all residents of Mukuru Kwa Reuben and other informal settlements live in dignity,” he added.

“I’m thrilled that the Ngong River stretch cutting the heart of Mukuru Kwa Reuben which was replete with dirt and filth before President Ruto launched the initiative last September is now clean,” the CS noted.

The CS was accompanied by Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo who reiterated that the Climate Worx initiative is a success and would be replicated in other major towns and all the other 46 counties to restore various ecosystems while creating employment for youth and women.

Dr. Omollo attributed the improved security situation in Mukuru Kwa Reuben, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mukuru Viwandani and other informal settlements in the city to the implementation of the Climate Worx initiative.