NAIROBI, Kenya— The government has onboarded 25,000 youth into the Climate Worx Program, a national green workforce initiative aimed at tackling urban environmental degradation while creating sustainable jobs for young people.
The induction, held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, brought together government leaders, civil society, and community groups in a powerful show of commitment to scaling up Kenya’s urban climate response.
The newly recruited cohort, a mix of youth, women, National Youth Service (NYS) graduates, and grassroots groups, will be deployed to informal settlements, flood-prone areas, and riparian zones across the country.
“This isn’t just about cleaning up our environment, it’s about tackling the problem at the source,” said Brigadier Joseph Muracia, CEO of the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC).
“It’s about restoring dignity to informal workers, revitalizing neglected urban spaces, and building a greener, more inclusive future led by our youth.”
Climate Worx is a flagship program under the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, and is implemented in partnership with county governments, the NRC, NYS, and civil society actors.
The initiative targets pollution hotspots and neglected urban spaces while building resilience in some of Kenya’s most vulnerable communities.
Previous interventions under Climate Worx have already transformed areas such as Kibra, Dandora, and Lucky Summer, with visible improvements in riverbank restoration, drainage, sanitation, and access to safe public spaces.
A key focus of the initiative is the ongoing rehabilitation of the 27-kilometre Nairobi River corridor, which was designated as a Special Planning Area (SPA) in March 2025.
This corridor is currently undergoing phased redevelopment to restore ecosystems, improve water quality, and provide new opportunities for community interaction and recreation.
The government contends that the program delivers impact across environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
According to the government, the program has environmentally restored urban ecosystems, reducing solid waste, and cleaning up water bodies.
Economically, it is providing thousands of underserved youth with paid work opportunities, skills development, and the foundation for future enterprise.
Socially, it is fostering community inclusion, enhancing public health, and reimagining public spaces as hubs for recreation and cultural exchange.
Officials at the event emphasized that Climate Worx is designed with long-term sustainability in mind, with continued investment in training, tools, infrastructure, and inter-agency coordination.
In the coming weeks, the newly inducted workforce will begin work at new sites across the country, with further mobilization expected through partnerships with community organizations, urban development teams, and national agencies.
