The Murang’a county government will provide short-term employment to 3,102 youths.
The programme has commenced following the adoption of Murang’a Youth Service Policy and Regulations by the county assembly.
It allows the county government to implement the Murang’a Youth Service programme at a cost of Sh110 million and a Sh20 million internship programme.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata launched the programme on Tuesday, saying it will solve several challenges that the county has been encountering including joblessness among youths.
It will provide opportunities for local youths to work for the county government while enhancing service delivery at a lower cost.
The county, Kang’ata said, has only 200 people sweeping the streets in towns and shopping centres and the programme will see more youths engaged.
A total of 1,050 youths, he said, will be engaged for two months for environmental clean-ups in urban areas.
Those interested in the jobs are required to submit their applications before September 15 and will earn Sh400 per day.
Another 35 youths will be recruited as ward supervisors with the role of overseeing the youths recruited for clean-ups.
The ward supervisors will be required to be degree holders and will be engaged for a total of two years with a monthly salary of Sh30,000.
Some 300 youths will be engaged as interns in Early Childhood Education Centres for one year.
The recruits will need to have a certificate, diploma or degree in the appropriate courses and will be attached to the various ECDE centres in the county with a monthly pay of Sh10,000.
In the health sector, 80 nurses with a diploma in nursing and registered with the Nursing Council will be employed for one year and earn Sh30,000 monthly.
About 20 medical laboratory technologists with a diploma in medical laboratory will also be recruited for one year with a monthly salary of Sh30,000.
A total of 20 medical clerk interns will earn Sh20, 000 monthly for a year and will only be required to produce a KCSE certificate.
IT specialists and software engineers will have 10 employment opportunities with a monthly salary of Sh20,000.
The governor said his administration has upgraded several health facilities including Kirwara, Kandara and Maragua hospitals, with seven new dispensaries working.
“The interns will ensure the facilities get sufficient health care workers and help facilitate the automation of health systems,” he said.
In the agriculture sector, 582 youths will be employed for a month to help conduct a census of local farmers with a daily payment of Sh2,500.
A further 1,000 will be employed for a month as youth conservationists and will be deployed to specific sub counties.
They will need a post-secondary qualification in agricultural science, agribusiness, statistics, social sciences, community development or any other related discipline.
Four quantity surveyors with a degree or diploma in quantity survey will be employed for two years with a monthly salary of Sh20,000 while one architect will be engaged for two years with a salary of Sh20,000.
The programme is expected to alleviate the challenge of joblessness that the county has been grappling with and which is attributed for the high levels of alcoholism and drugs abuse.
“These programme will help mitigate the issue of drug abuse and alcoholism by providing a source of income for thousands of youths and ensuring they acquire the necessary skills for the job market,” he said.