President Ruto Launches Climate Resilience Program to Employ 200,000 Youth Nationwide

President William Ruto has officially launched the Climate Resilience Service Program (CRSP), a transformative employment initiative aimed at building climate resilience by engaging Kenya's unemployed youth. Speaking on Thursday, September 12, at Korogocho during the launch, President Ruto announced that the flagship program, branded Climate WorX Mtaani, will target youth from all 47 counties, with a recruitment goal of 200,000 Kenyans.

The CRSP aims to promote sustainable public works across urban areas, focusing on infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and the housing sector. The first phase will be rolled out in Nairobi County, concentrating on the rehabilitation of the Nairobi River. This phase will be overseen by the Nairobi River Commission, with an emphasis on environmental restoration and enforcement.

“We are going to employ 20,000 youth to work on the 42-kilometer stretch of the Nairobi River to clean and restore it,” President Ruto announced. He also urged young Kenyans to apply for the program via www.crsp.go.ke.

_{Inset: Youths participating in a cleanup project tidying up a portion of the Nairobi River}

The initiative is open to all Kenyans aged 18 and above, with each group, or cohort, serving for one year. After each year, a new cohort will be recruited, providing participants with both work experience and life skills training to equip them for future opportunities. The government has highlighted that the one-year duration is designed to allow participants ample time to work and plan their next steps.

To ensure the success of the program, a multi-agency approach will be adopted, involving strong collaboration between national and county governments. This will help streamline the implementation of the program across the country.