The biometric registration exercise for the National Youth Service cohorts finally kicked-off in Kisumu on Saturday, one week after being delayed.
The exercise which is expected to see the over 4,000 youth who had been working at the NYS projects in Obunga, Manyatta and Nyalenda registered, had been delayed after a section of area leaders rejected the exercise.
The leaders had advised the project beneficiaries to boycott the exercise as they claimed the registration of the NYS youth aimed at interfering with the biometric voter registration set to commence next month.
However, the youth turned up in large numbers at Kenya Wildlife Services Western Regional offices in Kisumu’s Milimani estate for the one day exercise.
“The cohorts will be given smart cards which they will use to withdraw their monies from the bank as all payments will be made through the bank,” said a supervisor who did not want his name revealed.
The youth had been involved in various activities involving cleaning the estates including solid waste collection and disposal, clearing bushes and desilting drainage tunnels.
The works however, stopped last year after corruption allegations marred the Ministry of Devolution and the National Youth Service.
The supervisor involved in the registration however, confirmed that the works are set to begin within one month.
“We had experienced instances where some people drew money using other people’s names, and many other challenges in managing the payroll hence we hope the biometric registration will make our work easier once the work resumes,” added the supervisor.
The beneficiaries expressed confidence that the project which had been their source of daily bread will soon commence and open up opportunities for the many jobless youth in the slums.