President William Ruto hinted at the rebranding of Uhuru Kenyatta's Kazi Mtaani program during the National Youth Service (NYS) pass-out ceremony in Gilgil, Nakuru County, on Monday, August 26.
The initiative, now titled 'Climate Work Mtaani', will be managed by the NYS officers as supervisors and will focus on greening Kenya and promoting environmental sustainability.
Addressing the gathering, President Ruto explained the importance of the rebranded initiative in addressing climate change through proactive measures.
"I want to also announce that NYS will be supervising the cohort of young people that we will be recruiting under our climate work Mtaani initiative.”
“This program is designed to bring more young people into the space of greening Kenya, managing our environmental sustainability, and making sure that we respond to matters of climate change using the climate action initiatives that we have in place," said President Ruto.
The President also instructed the minister responsible for NYS to collaborate with ministers in charge of the environment, housing, and defence ministries in enhancing the project.
“I am instructing the minister responsible for NYS to work with ministers responsible for environment, housing and defence for them to provide leadership under this initiative as we focus on growing 15 billion trees as our response to matters of climate change,” Ruto directed.
This collaboration is expected to ensure a holistic approach to the program and leverage the diverse expertise from the different sectors to maximise impact.
The rebranded program aims to expand its scope beyond the original Kazi Mtaani's focus on infrastructure and community service.
It now includes environmental components, notably the ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees as part of Kenya's commitment to combating global warming and enhancing ecological balance.
President Ruto emphasised the dual benefits of the initiative, noting that it will provide employment opportunities for thousands of youths while simultaneously contributing to the country's environmental goals.
"This initiative is not just about job creation but also about instilling a sense of responsibility among our youth to take care of their environment. It is a critical part of our comprehensive strategy to address the myriad challenges of climate change while empowering our young population," he explained.
When he assumed office, he announced an ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees to kick out climate issues in Kenya.
