The Kenyan government has announced plans to significantly expand its Climate WorkX initiative, increasing the number of workers involved in environmental restoration efforts from 20,000 to 50,000. This initiative is part of the country’s commitment to enhancing environmental conservation while providing job opportunities for young people.
The announcement was made during the launch of the Ngong River Clean-up initiative in Mukuru kwa Reuben, located in the Embakasi East Constituency. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen shared that this expansion aims to speed up the restoration of key rivers, including the Mathare, Nairobi, and Ngong Rivers. The Climate WorkX project focuses on clearing waste, rehabilitating eroded riverbanks, and planting trees along these critical waterways.
In addition to expanding the workforce, the government is also considering an increase in the daily stipend for workers, which is currently set at Ksh500. “The president has sent me to inform you that we are increasing the workforce in the Climate WorkX project from 20,000 to 50,000,” Murkomen said during the event.
The first phase of the project, launched in September 2024 by President William Ruto, already employed 20,000 youths and contributed to transforming the Nairobi River Basin into a thriving economic and recreational space. Speaking at the same event, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo assured participants that the government would review the stipend in the coming month to address concerns about its adequacy.
This restoration effort is part of the broader environmental strategy of the Kenya Kwanza government, which seeks to integrate conservation with job creation. Murkomen emphasized that Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, should follow the example of major cities such as Paris, London, and Washington, which maintain clean rivers flowing through urban areas.
