25,000 Youth Join Climate Worx Programme
The project responds to immediate environmental concerns such as river pollution, solid waste disposal, and deterioration of public areas.
The new staff is also a diversified team made up of youth, women, NYS graduates, and members of community-based organizations. Photo courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
The government has officially onboarded 25,000 young individuals into the Climate Worx Programme, marking a historic milestone in the implementation of Kenya’s urban environmental agenda. The recruits will be assigned to existing and prospective project sites primarily located in high-density informal settlements, urban riparian zones, and flood plains.
This large-scale induction is a milestone in the country’s continued climate adaptation and creation of green jobs campaign. Climate Worx Programme is an innovative, youth-focused environmental program that was launched by the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development. It is conducted in collaboration with county governments, the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC), the National Youth Service (NYS), civil society groups, as well as other partners.
The project responds to immediate environmental concerns such as river pollution, solid waste disposal, and deterioration of public areas, as well as creating plausible employment and skill development avenues for Kenyan youth.
This is not just a tidying-up dirty places program. It’s about fixing system problems, restoring dignity to informal workers, bringing back life to forgotten places, and empowering youth to build a more sustainable and equitable future,” said Rtd. Brigadier Joseph Muracia, Nairobi Rivers Commission CEO.
The new staff is also a diversified team made up of youth, women, NYS graduates, and members of community-based organizations. They were selected via a planned recruitment strategy over the previous months.
The Climate Worx Programmer has already had far-reaching effects in areas such as Kibra, Dandora, and Lucky Summer, where projects have led to cleaner rivers, improving drainage, improved sanitation, and the regeneration of public spaces. Of prime focus is the restoration of the 27-kilometre Nairobi River corridor, which is being subjected to a planned restoration with a Special Planning Area (SPA) status announced in March 2025.
The program offers a range of benefits:
Environmental: Healthier environments, better waste handling, and cleaner waterways.
Economic: Potential for earnings by disadvantaged youth, gaining useful skills, and potential for business start-ups.
Social: Stronger community connections, public health benefits, and revitalized cultural and recreational areas.
During the next few weeks, the inducted young people will be stationed in newly gazetted areas. Further deployments would be facilitated through cooperative arrangements with community groups, urban development departments, and sectoral agencies. Government officials emphasized that this is a long-term programme, with persistent investment in capacity development, equipment, infrastructure, and coordination to ensure that the programme’s impact is both durable and replicable.
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