News
Youth jobs plan set for major boost
Ladies open up blocked drainages under the Kazi kwa vijana initiative at Nyalenda slums in Kisumu. The future of the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme is likely to be secured once Kenya’s bid to rope in the World Bank yields results. Photo/JACOB OWITI
Posted Monday, January 18 2010 at 20:00
In Summary
- Kenya has asked the World Bank to help run the programme
The future of the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme is likely to be secured once Kenya’s bid to rope in the World Bank yields results.
The government has written to the Bretton Woods institution proposing how the programme can be assisted.
Youths engaged in various projects across the country shall receive formal training on how to go about their businesses, while those already trained shall be offered internships.
The private sector has also been roped in, and will be expected to open doors of opportunities, where the youths can exploit skills acquired after the training.
According to a report from the office of the Prime Minister, Kazi Kwa Vijana (KKV) is set for a major boost – both financially and in terms of skills improvement – if the WB gives a nod to the proposals.
Challenge
The sustainability of the programme, now entering its second year, and community participation shall be greatly increased.
The good news come at a time when KKV is facing the challenge of lack of efficiency.
In its first year, KKV has been associated with protest marches by youths in various parts of the country over pay delays.
The report says the government has developed environmental impact assessments to ensure that possible risks are prevented, minimised or compensated as required by the bank.
Says the report: “The World Bank has global experience in best practice operational features of public works programmes and will, together with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), provide important technical skills to improve the efficiency of the KKV.”
The government has disclosed that in the KKV programme priority will be given to projects that can be implemented rapidly.
They include road maintenance, small-scale water supply and sanitation, water harvesting and waste collection.
“The implementation of the respective projects is not expected to have adverse environmental impacts, given the relatively simple and mostly manual nature of the work,” says the report, which has been posted on the web site of the Prime Minister’s office.
The proposals will enhance the existing projects under the KKV programme which were launched in April last year by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
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Submitted by shujaaPosted January 19, 2010 07:25 PM
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Submitted by kitkiew
This a great idea. If properly funded and managed it will help very many families on their way to self reliance.
Posted January 19, 2010 06:13 PM -
Submitted by daveshiwani
From the photo above-is it 'kazi kwa vijana ' or 'kazi kwa akina mama'.Let us define the scope of this chore in advance; to avoid misleading upshots from all the stakeholders.
Posted January 19, 2010 03:26 PM -
Submitted by geeknoma
It is not nice to call these jobs "menial". the economy even in the next Decade cannot create jobs for all those not making it to high school or university. I am afraid that they will have to do those jobs, there are a lot of public works that if financed properly can occupy them and give them a livelihood and experience instead of idleness and crime.... It might not be a Cushy 8 to 5 office job,...but it is meaningful work.
Posted January 19, 2010 12:27 PM
RSS
Those women are not working, only pretending. One properly equipped person would the same job in the same time. This overstaffing is a big problem in Kenya, because it is inefficient, promotes idleness, and keeps salaries very low. If I was an employer, I would sack most of my staff, keeping only hard working ones and multiply their salaries. This way we'd get a sizeable middle class, which would then support the poor. this way most people would eventually benefit from losing a job!