The Kenyan government has unveiled intentions to significantly broaden its Climate WorkX initiative, raising the number of participants involved in environmental restoration from 20,000 to 50,000.
This program is part of the nation’s pledge to improve environmental conservation while creating employment opportunities for the youth.
The announcement occurred during the inauguration of the Ngong River Clean-up initiative in Mukuru kwa Reuben, situated in the Embakasi East Constituency. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen indicated that this growth is aimed at hastening the restoration of vital rivers, including the Mathare, Nairobi, and Ngong Rivers.
The Climate WorkX initiative focuses on waste removal, rehabilitating eroded riverbanks, and planting trees alongside these important waterways.
Beyond increasing the workforce, the government is also contemplating raising the daily stipend for participants, currently set at Ksh500. “The president has instructed me to convey that we will be expanding the Climate WorkX project’s workforce from 20,000 to 50,000,” Murkomen announced during the event.
The initial phase of the project, which commenced in September 2024 under President William Ruto’s leadership, already hired 20,000 young individuals and played a role in transforming the Nairobi River Basin into a vibrant economic and recreational area.
During the same event, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo reassured attendees that the government would assess the stipend in the upcoming month to address concerns about its sufficiency.
This restoration initiative is part of the wider environmental strategy put forth by the Kenya Kwanza government, which aims to merge conservation efforts with job creation.
Murkomen highlighted that Nairobi should emulate major cities like Paris, London, and Washington, which have preserved clean rivers running through urban landscapes.
