Councillor in fistfight over Kazi Kwa Vijana funds

By Adow Jubat and Mangoa Mosota

A councillor and a senior forestry officer engaged in a fistfight over Kazi Kwa Vijana funds in Ijara District.

The two sustained injuries before they were separated by forest guards and later taken to Masalani District Hospital.

Masalani Ward Councillor Hassan Farah had visited the office to complain to the District Forest Officer Thomas Changamo over alleged hiring of non-locals for the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme to plant trees.

Speaking to reporters from his hospital bed, the civic leader claimed the forest officer was favouring people from outside the district.

He said: "When I went to his office, instead of listening to my grievances as a leader, the officer set his armed forest guards on me."

But Mr Changamo denied Mr Farah’s claims, saying the leader went to his office accompanied by hooligans and started beating people.

Uniform pay

Elsewhere, a senior official at the Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s office has called for harmonisation of the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme to enhance implementation.

Speaking when he paid Nyanza Deputy PC Joseph Irungu a courtesy call, Deputy Chief Economist John Musale said youth should earn uniform pay countrywide.

"We need to synchronise the payment made to the youths to minimise differences," said Mr Musale.

He at he same time said the fund’s steering committee, headed by the PM, would next week discuss monitoring and evaluation reports of the programme.

The economist is leading a team from the PM’s office, which is visiting projects under the initiative in the region. He said those managing the fund at the grassroots level must follow stipulated guidelines such as eligibility age.

Necessary tools

Musale said: "We have received reports of people aged over 35 years in the programme. The guidelines are clear that only youth in the 18-35 age bracket qualify to work".

The Deputy PC called upon the national office to ensure measures are put in place to provide youth with necessary working tools.