The government has been funding an expanded public works program (Kazi Mtaani) since the emergence of COVID, which has employed close to 283,000 youths, thereby giving them some relief from the effects of the disease on the economy. The program was set to expire on 4th March 2021, but the good government has extended it once again to continue supporting the livelihoods of thousands of young people across the country. The focus on youths I presume is based on the fact that statistics show that the median age in Africa is 19.2 years.
Kazi Mtaani is one of the ways through which a government concerned with the welfare of its people can provide a quick solution to the underlying access to economic opportunities. It was started and financed despite such a budget having not been factored in the normal budgetary cycles. This is because a government must keep formulating solutions to its citizens as they keep emerging.
The program has a bearing on the healthy living environments, reduction of disease burdens and unnecessary expenditures and hence increased development; and also focused on sustainable and long lasting legacy projects like construction of schools, tree planting and training and skill development.
COVID-19 greatly affected the youths who already had been engaged in agriculture and informal sectors, which have high incidences of under-employment, worsened by the bulging youth demographic. Unemployment of youths poses economic, social, moral and policy dilemmas for government, and through Kazi Mtaani, the government has shown its continued commitment to address this challenge. In the process, it has roped in other initiatives, including emphasis on technical and vocational training, provision of student loans, revitalizing agriculture, increased funding of medium and small enterprises and improved business environment.
To make Kazi Mtaani program and other initiatives sustainable in tackling youth unemployment, stakeholders should hand with public sector through innovative collaborations. Under Kazi Mtaani, partnerships have been established with training institutions to enhance skills for the youths. Under such initiative, stakeholders can inject more funding, provide capacity building initiatives, mentorship, provision of equipment’s for start-up ventures and training institutions.
Leaders should encourage youths to use these initiatives as a stepping stone for greater prosperity, in line with the words of former US president, JF Kennedy, who observed that “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. We must collectively and sustainably address youth unemployment problem
Dr. Daniel Mutegi Giti 