Jobless youths in Kibera can now breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the efforts by the government to revive the slum upgrading programme spearheaded by the National Youth Service.
The initiative under the Ministry of Devolution and Planning was suspended in September following the expiry of the duration set for it to last.
This was a shocker to many residents who depended on the wages earned from the activities from the project including cleaning, construction and rehabilitation of latrines, roads, and agribusiness ran by various groups.
However, the registration of workers for the second phase of the initiative has kicked off again in Kibera, with youths turning out in numbers.
Confirmation the development, Martin Oduor, Project chairman of Kibera B branch said the 225 youths are being registered afresh before they embark on the work.
"We received a notice about NYS project re-launching again in Kibera and currently, registration is ongoing before we begin the work as soon as it will be announced by the authority. Registration is open even for the 225 youth who participated in the previous programme," Oduor told journalists on Tuesday at Olympic area where the registration is ongoing.
"We urge all youths and women in Kibera to register before being locked out," he added.
Some of the beneficiaries of the previous programme have expressed delight following the move by the government to revive the projects that had transformed their lives positively before being halted.
“I am happy that the government has brought back the NYS jobs because who have suffered a lot since the work was stopped. I have gone through hard times since the project was halted,” expressed Irene Atieno, a widow who depended on the wages from the programme to carter for her family.