President William Ruto launched the Climate WorX Mtaani initiative on September 12, 2024, in Korogocho, Nairobi, aimed at providing jobs to youth while tackling environmental issues like the rehabilitation of the Nairobi River. The program will employ 200,000 youth nationwide, starting with 20,000 in Nairobi, to engage in environmental projects such as tree planting, solid waste management, and road maintenance. Workers will be paid Sh500 daily, while supervisors will earn Sh550, with bi-weekly mobile payments.
Recruits will work two weeks on and two weeks off. Despite previous failed efforts to clean the Nairobi River, this initiative is viewed as a new opportunity for environmental sustainability, relying on political will, community involvement, and coordination. However, concerns remain about enforcing regulations and preventing illegal dumping, challenges that hindered past projects such as the Nairobi Rivers Commission (2023), among others.
