Kibera Deputy County Commissioner Gideon Ombongi noted that necessary steps would be taken to weed out those who don’t work.
He pointed out that some of the youths had received jobs elsewhere or went back to school but still kept on benefitting from the program.
“Some went back to school, others got employment even with the government including Kenya Defence Forces, others have been hired by counties and moved out of Nairobi but are still being paid because they are in our records,†Ombongi stated.
Currently, workers under the program, operate on two shifts of Cohort A and B, each working for 11 days a month and earn Ksh455 per day.
He stated that some youth lay idle in the streets while waiting to be paid at the end of the day. Ombongi affirmed that administrators from various regions would create a new list in order to delist the ghost workers.
Further, he noted that the youth would undergo enhanced supervision in order to curb the menace.
The news comes as Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga had urged the youth working under the programme to remain patient due to delays in payment.
“For all Kazi Mtaani youths and more specifically Cohort A youths whose payment has been delayed, we seek your indulgence and patience as we resolve payment processes.
“In the past phase, the funds were with us but for now, we are waiting for the same to be sent and we pay,” he stated.
The program was kicked off in July 2020 with the aim of improving hygiene and sanitation in informal settlements as well as helping thousands of youth rendered jobless by the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 280,000 youth enrolled in the initiative.
Among the activities carried out include garbage collection and street cleaning, fumigation and unclogging of drainages, rehabilitation of public facilities such as buildings, access roads, and walkways.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM