President Uhuru Kenyatta's government has allocated over Ksh20 billion for various youth programmes in the country for the 2022/2023 Financial Year.
Kenyans.co.ke breaks down the youths' allocation in the Ksh3 trillion budget read by the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Ukur Yatani, on Thursday, April 7.
From the breakdown, the National Youth Service (NYS) took the lion's share of the youth budget with Ksh13 billion allocated to the government agency.
Notably, the Kazi Mtaani programme is set to make a comeback after Treasury allocated Ksh2.1 billion under the Economic Stimulus Programmes (ESPs).
"The government will continue with the implementation of the economic stimulus programme to cushion citizens and businesses from the adverse effects of the pandemic to accelerate economic recovery.
"In regard to the Ksh20.6 billion that has been provided in the budget, Ksh2.1 billion will be used for youth empowerment under the Kazi Mtaani programme," read the budget summary.
In previous programmes, the government employed the youth to partake in various cleaning projects across the country. The youth were also absorbed as a workforce in the Big Four Agenda projects such as the affordable housing.
Yatani indicated that more youths would be employed in future programs, revealing that over 200,000 were employed last year.
"In the Financial Year 2021/2022, the third phase of the Economic Stimulus Programme under implementation targeted the Kazi Mtaani programme to create employment for over 200,000 youths across the country," the CS stated.
Additionally, the government allocated an additional Ksh2.2 billion for the Kenya Youth Empowerment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) that is being undertaken by the State Department for Youth.
The Youth Enterprise Development Fund, which offers loans for youth enterprises, was allocated Ksh175 million.
In a bid to promote employment among the Youth, Uhuru's government allocated Ksh900 million for the creation of job opportunities in conjunction with vocational training.
Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the youth were allocated Ksh2.4 billion to promote farming among them under Enable Youth Programme.
