President Ruto brings back Kazi Mtaani to give hope and jobs to youth

President William Ruto during Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay on June 1, 2025. [PCS]

President William Ruto has announced the return of the popular youth program Kazi Mtaani, bringing smiles and hope to many young Kenyans.

Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay on Sunday, June 1,  Ruto said the program will give thousands of young people jobs, skills, and a chance to build a better future.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce the revival of Kazi Mtaani,” the President told the excited crowd.

“This program will empower our youth with meaningful work and hope for a better tomorrow,” he added.

The Kazi Mtaani program was first started by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, but was stopped in 2022 when Ruto’s government focused on the Affordable Housing program.

Now, Ruto says it is time to bring it back to work alongside other youth projects.

Starting next week, over 110,000 young Kenyans will be hired under the program to clean up towns, build small roads, plant trees, and improve poor neighborhoods.

The work will be done through a bigger project called ClimateWorks.

“This is not just about giving a daily wage,” Ruto said, adding,  “it’s about helping our youth get skills to start businesses, go back to school, or find better jobs.”

He reminded Kenyans that change will only come if they believe in themselves and work hard. “We must show the world that we can build our future together,” he added.

The President also talked about the country’s economy. He said that Kenya’s economy has been growing, inflation has gone down, and the value of the Kenyan shilling has improved. “This progress is helping us create more jobs and build more houses,” he said.

In Homa Bay, 110 families recently got new homes through the Affordable Housing project. Among them were boda boda rider Kennedy Otieno Odede and fish seller Hellen Osala, who are now proud homeowners.

Ruto also said the government is improving education and training. Over 76,000 teachers have been hired since independence, with 24,000 more coming by next year. The number of students in technical training (TVET) is expected to rise to 2 million by the end of 2025.

Through the Hustler Fund, 25 million people have received loans worth KSh 70 billion. The NYOTA project, supported by the World Bank, will also support 800,000 youth with training, business grants, and job links. “We are giving KSh 5 billion to 100,000 young people to help them start their businesses by August,” Ruto said.

In the Blue Economy, President Ruto highlighted new investments in fish farming around Lake Victoria, such as the Kabonyo Aquaculture Center and new fish markets.