Hundreds of Nairobi youth have shown interests in joining the Nairobi Governor Miko Sonko’s Ng’arisha Jiji Initiative.
The Ng’arisha Jiji Initiative was launched two years ago by Governor Sonko and a lot has been achieved since then.
Among the notable achievements are; beautification along major roads of the Capital Nairobi that include; Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway among others.
The ongoing unclogging of drainages and sewer lines clearance is also part of Ng’arisha Jiji Initiative.
The programme has absorbed thousands of jobless youth and many more still want to join the team.
Sonko recently ordered his Chief of Staff, Brian Mugo, to quickly come up with a strategy that will see at least 20 more youth from each of the 85 wards in Nairobi are absorbed in the plan.
Mugo said that he has already initiated the process by engaging area MCA’s and ward administrators.
Abdi Guyo, a 28-year-old father of two and group leader at Ng’ong River, where a body of a middle aged man was recently found, said that he only got married after joining Ng’arisha Jiji Initiative.
Guyo said he was previously a wanted criminal before Sonko gave him employment to sustain himself.
“If you go the DCI Headquarters, you’ll be shocked with what is in my file. All my gang members, with whom we worked with, previously have been gunned down,” he said.
Guyo added that he has been approached by over 100 youth willing to join the ongoing cleaning and beautifying of Nairobi.
“I have been approached by over 100 youth willing to join us. I thank God now that Governor Sonko has given that directive that more youth be recruited,” he said.
Fredrick Okinda, a group leader in Korogocho, said they have encountered a lot of challenges, but the recent award from UN-Habitat boosted their morale.
He said a lot of international and local tourists have been flocking to one of the recently established recreational park along the Nairobi River.
He said he was also on the list of wanted criminals before joining the Ngarisha Jiji programme.
“If it was not for Sonko, I don’t know where some of us would be. We were living in fear knowing that police would come after us. However, surprisingly they’re now our good friends,” he said.
Korocho has at least nine villages and majority of the youth are willing to join others in cleaning Nairobi.
Some of the villages include Githathuru, Gomongo, Kisumu Ndogo, Highridge among others.
Joab Ogola, senior official with Nairobi Beautification Programme, said he has received several calls from youth who want to join the project.
“I receive thousands of calls from youth who want to join us. They call even in the wee hours of the night. At times I was forced to switch off my phone, but I’m now grateful that the Governor has issued a directive that more youth should be recruited,” said Ogolla.