Sadly, noble KKV idea did little for youth

During the last General Election campaigns, the Government pledged youth employment as one of its key plans to reduce unemployment, especially for the youth. It went further to call for donor support for this.

This was how the Kazi kwa Vijana programme came into being. Many youth organised themselves in the hope their livelihoods would be turned around; at last, the Government was addressing their plight.

However, years later, nothing much has been done. Youthful men and women were subjected to harsh jobs from cleaning of rivers, garbage collections, and other social works all in the name of youth employment and empowerment.

Donors, including the World Bank, came in and pledged their support for this noble project.

Personal interests

Unfortunately, an audit report by the World Bank reveals the funds were grossly misused by the same leaders mandated to oversee the programme. It is suspected the monies were channelled to selfish personal interests, leading to the now popular axiom, Kazi kwa vijana, pesa kwa wazee (the youth do the work as elderly – read leaders – take the cash).

Investigations should tell Kenyans the truth about the missing cash especially after Prime Minister Raila Odinga came out defending his office, which was to oversee this particular phase of the funding.

Raila says, contrary to the World Bank report that the cash was misused, nothing was lost. World Bank wants a refund of the money and the Government, through Joseph Kinyua (Ps Treasury) plans to invade another kitty to refund the cash.

It is sad that since its inception the KKV project has achieved little if nothing. It was all over the media how elusive the implementation of this initiative was as youth who were involved in the actual workwent without pay yet the working conditions and facilities remained pathetic. It was also alleged there were ghost workers who only emerged during pay time.

It is time leaders took responsibility and become accountable to wananchi.

As investigations go on, the Government and indeed all our leaders must understand youth empowerment is the first step towards realising a strong growing and efficient nation. We should not throw away the baby with the bath towel of mismanagement.

{Nixon Kanali, Nakuru}