The Kazi Kwa Vijana (KKV) initiative received some fresh impetus today after the World Bank ratified a Ksh 4.5 billion fund for empowerment of the youth under the programme.

The multimillion Pilot initiatives under the Kenya Youth Empowerment programme was mooted to offer the jobless lot an opportunity for training and development of skills through internship packages in both formal and informal sectors of the economy.

In a statement after the signing of the credit at Treasury buildings, Prime Minister Raila Odinga lauded the World Bank initiative and expressed optimism that the programme was tailored to create an enabling environment for the youth to realize their aspirations.

“The Kazi Kwa Vijana programme (KKV) has now been enhanced not only to provide labor-intensive works but also to provide social service, private sector internships and training” he said.

 The Premier said the programme which has three components would also enhance the capacity of the staff at the Ministry of Youth affairs to effectively plan and implement the National Youth Policy.

 The KKV programme under the Office the Prime Minister was launched last year to engage the rising numbers of unemployed youth in gainful activities when the country was wading through the recent global economic downturn.

Odinga said immediate challenge the government faced was to ensure that the more than 75% of the energetic section of our society was engaged in productive activities, not only for personal well-being, but also for enhancement of the quality of life of all Kenyans.  

The key objective of the KKV programme was to provide the unemployed and vulnerable group of young men and women with income opportunities within the government infrastructural and social development projects.
The Labour Intensive component of the programme is projected to cost at least Ksh 3.2 billion while the training and the capacity building initiative takes Ksh 1.1 billion and Ksh 112 million  respectively.

The government last year unveiled KKV pilot projects in several districts in the country but was later put the programme on hold after preliminary audit of the expenditures indicated that a larger chunk of the funds was consumed in administrative costs.

The Premier directed an overhaul of the structures to cut administrative costs to ensure that the programme reflected the aspiration and needs of the unemployed youth.