MPs reject phase two of Kazi kwa Vijana project

Thursday, 07 April 2011 00:04 BY ISAAC ONGIRI

MANUAL: Nairobi Metropolitan minister Njeru Githae during the launch of KKV in Kirinyaga.

MPs yesterday opposed Sh5 billion plans by the Prime Minister’s office to start a new youth empowerment project under Kazi kwa Vijana II. The legislators expressed disappointment in the first phase of the Kazi kwa Vijana where Sh7 billion was invested.
Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara’s objection was widely supported by MPs.“This project should not start at least before a proper auditing of the first project is done,” Imanyara said.
In a statement read by deputy prime minister Musalia Mudavadi, the government now intends to inject more money to finance skilled labour that will see 190,000 youths absorbed into the job markets.“The project has three components, namely, labour-intensive works and social services to be funded at $43 million (Sh3.6bn); private sector internships and training to be funded at $15.5 million (Sh1.29bn),” said Musalia. Musalia said that 1,200 new labour intensive projects will be put up targeting 40,000 youths.
A total of 1,200 labour intensive projects will be implemented under KKV II at the district level. This projects will employ 190,000 youths in the 18–35 age bracket of whom 40,000 will be on full-time basis. “Districts with the highest rate of unemployment, those facing drought and hunger challenges will be given priority,” the DPM said.
Though Mudavadi admitted that the first project was a failure, he said the government has put in place measures to ensure amends are made in the implementation of the KKV II.
The new programme will get funding from international donors including DFID, UNDP, Italian Corporation and the government of Japan. But Gwasi MP John Mbadi said the programme will not succeed if proposer managerial steps are not put in place. “We have hundreds of people asking us about this KKV thing but we also do not know about. I would advice the PM not to start this new one before a proper plan is installed to manage ir,”he said. Bura MP Nuh Nassir described the project as a total failure.
He warned the government not to waste public and donor funds on it if it cannot find ways of managing it properly. Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh also opposed the initiation of the project unless the first one is properly audited and reconciled.