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The Hydropower Boom in Africa: A Green Energy Revolution Africa is tapping into its immense hydropower potential, ushering in an era of renewable energy. With monumental projects like Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Inga Dams in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the continent is gearing up to address its energy demands sustainably while driving economic growth.
Northern Kenya is a region rich in resources, cultural diversity, and strategic trade potential, yet it remains underutilized in the national development agenda.
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Kazi Mtaani was established as a rapid government response to the devastating effects of job losses among the youth, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative aimed to curb rising unemployment while simultaneously improving hygiene, infrastructure, and environmental conditions in urban informal settlements. Young people—many of whom had lost jobs or dropped out of school—were recruited to participate in various public works projects.
The program mainly targets unemployed or underemployed youth living in urban and peri-urban informal settlements.
These areas often struggle with poor infrastructure and lack of basic services, making them ideal for such community-driven interventions. By engaging young people directly in the transformation of their own neighborhoods, the initiative not only provides employment but also instills a sense of ownership and community pride.
Participants under Kazi Mtaani engage in daily tasks that include cleaning streets, unclogging drainage systems, collecting garbage, landscaping, painting public buildings, repairing public walkways, and planting trees.
The work typically takes place in rotating shifts, ensuring that many young people have an opportunity to benefit from the program. These tasks also equip them with practical skills that can be applied in future employment or self-employment opportunities.
Kazi Mtaani has significantly impacted thousands of Kenyan households by offering daily wages to youth who were previously unemployed. For many, the program served as their only source of income, helping them afford basic needs like food, rent, and school fees for siblings. Socially, it fostered a sense of discipline, routine, and patriotism, as participants were required to adhere to codes of conduct and report to work sites regularly.
The initiative also brought about cleaner neighborhoods, improved public hygiene, and heightened civic responsibility among the youth. It became more than a wage program—it became a nation-building tool.
Although initially designed as a short-term intervention, there have been calls to institutionalize the program for long-term benefits. More recently, the government announced plans to restructure and relaunch it under new frameworks, tying it to climate resilience and green economy projects. The rebranded initiative now aims to provide sustainable employment through activities such as afforestation, renewable energy maintenance, and infrastructure building.
By pivoting toward environmental and economic sustainability, the initiative is expected to not only address immediate youth unemployment but also align with broader national goals such as climate adaptation, urban renewal, and vocational training.
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