Hundreds of youth in Mombasa County are set to benefit from the National Youth Service (NYS) jobs.
Speaking during the opening of the Kongowea market clean up exercise, NYS Director General Mr Ethan Ndubai said more than eight hundred youth in the county will be hired to clean the market, adding that preference will be given to recovering drug addicts.
This follows President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive when he launched the NYS empowerment programme for youth in Old Town when he visited Mombasa.
The programme will target more than 1,000 youth, as it seeks to positively change the lives of the youth in the county who are mostly affected by drug abuse.
Mr Ndubai said during the clean-up exercise, the youth will be involved in building of access roads and unblocking of drainage systems in the slum areas.
He urged the youth employed through the programme to work hard in ensuring the programme benefits them by saving the money they earn.
“The youth have no reason to engage in illegal activities. They will be provided with jobs that will help them acquire skills that will change their lives,” said Ndubai.
He added: “The programme does not only aim at uplifting the lives of the youth through gainful employment, but also in public service delivery.”