HOMA BAY: President William Ruto has used this year’s Madaraka Day National Celebrations to announce the upcoming recruitment of 110,000 youth under the Climate WorX Program.
According to the head of state, the exercise will be conducted across the 47 counties beginning next week.
“I am equally pleased to report to the nation that, effective this week, we will commence the nationwide rollout of Climate Worx, a bold and ambitious initiative aimed at engaging over 110,000 young people across all 47 counties in meaningful work that strengthens our nation’s resilience, beginning with informal settlements,” said the president.
When was the Climate WorX Program launched
Launched last year in Nairobi, President Ruto claimed that the programme has recorded significant success and is now being expanded to the remaining 46 counties.
“Structured as a social protection programme, Climate Worx will engage youth to deliver vital public goods, including the construction of roads, the planting of trees, and the improvement of environmental sanitation within their localities,” he added.
Through Climate Worx, the head of state said his administration is not just offering a paycheck for today but also providing financial relief and a bridge to future opportunities.
“This is also enabling young people to pursue their next steps, whether in launching a business, furthering their education, or stepping into long-term employment,” he explained.
What is the theme of this year’s celebrations
With this year’s theme being, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, the president observed that Blue Economy is a central pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, with vast potential for job creation, food security, revenue generation, and rural development.
“Many nations have leveraged their marine resources for prosperity. It is time for Kenya to do the same. When we speak of unutilised opportunities and untapped potential in the Blue Economy, Homa Bay, in many ways, mirrors the promise of Kenya itself,” he explained.
According to President Ruto, who spoke at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, Kenya, can become a maritime powerhouse.
“It is time to act, time to do something bold, ambitious, and transformative with this opportunity. Recognising this opportunity, the government is prioritising the Blue Economy as a key frontier for national socio-economic transformation. We are making deliberate and strategic investments in sustainable fisheries across lakes, dams, and oceans,” he further said.
