Murkomen: 30,000 more youths to be hired to clean Nairobi rivers

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior PS Raymond Omollo during the event/MINA

The number of people hired to rehabilitate Nairobi rivers and related activities like solid waste management and tree planting will be increased from the current 20,000 to 50,000 next month.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that the government will increase the daily wages after the 50,000 target will have been achieved.

The National Climate Resilience Programme, commonly referred to as Climate WorX, integrates the young people into the national climate agenda and leverages labour-intensive projects to extend job opportunities to the vulnerable youth.

“Nearly half of the Nairobi River stretch is now fully restored. We shall increase the number of people working on all our Nairobi rivers to 50,000,” he said.

The government has also said security has improved in Mukuru Kwa Reuben, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mukuru Viwandani, and other informal settlements in the city following the launch of the programme.

 He added that the other 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 programme was launched on September 12, 2024, to replace the Kazi Mtaani Initiative and was designed as a multi-sectoral initiative, incorporating efforts from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, local administration, the National Youth Service (NYS) and the local communities.

“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,” Murkomen said.

Murkomen, while inspecting the cleaning exercise at Mukuru Kwa Reuben accompanied by Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, said the increase follows overwhelming requests by leaders and residents of other informal settlements.

The Ngong River stretch cutting the heart of Mukuru Kwa Reuben, which was replete with dirt and filth before the initiative was launched, is now clean.

The government launched the initiative to clean the Nairobi River and other critical ecosystems, especially in urban river corridors, so residents in informal settlements could live in dignity.

Omollo said the Climate Worx initiative was a success and would be replicated in other major towns and counties to restore various ecosystems while creating employment for youth and women.

The activities are aimed at eliminating the illegal dumping of solid waste and discharge of effluent in urban areas to build climate resilience and restore natural ecosystems.

The programme focuses on youth empowerment and their active involvement in improving infrastructure, including social housing, constructing footbridges and access roads, and creating essential physical and social amenities.

On December 24 2024, the youth from the Viwandani Climate WorX site in Makadara Sub-county launched the exercise of cleaning the Ngong River as part of the process.

“The initiative is anchored on enhancing climate resilience, promoting sustainability, and fostering partnerships for environmental restoration and livelihoods,” Omollo said.

The youth will be involved in three major work streams, including road and infrastructure, environment and housing, and urban development.

To further improve security in the areas, Omollo said the programme will be sustained by working closely with all the communities, elected leaders, and both faith-based and non-faith-based community leaders.