More than 360 young Kenyans who signed up for the government-backed Kazi Majuu jobs programme have been left in limbo after a Sh728 million corruption scandal derailed the initiative, raising fresh concerns about oversight, accountability, and the protection of public funds intended for youth employment.
The Kazi Majuu programme was launched with the promise of offering short-term employment opportunities to jobless youth, allowing them to earn income while contributing to community service projects such as environmental cleanup, public works, and local infrastructure support. However, instead of delivering work and wages, the scheme became mired in allegations of fraud, ghost workers, and misuse of funds.
Investigations into the programme revealed that large sums of money had been withdrawn and disbursed without proper verification of beneficiaries or completion of agreed work plans. In many cases, payments were made to names that did not correspond with youth who had actually reported for duty, fuelling suspicions that ghost enrolments and forged documentation were widespread.
A key issue in the scandal was the lack of due diligence in enrolling youth into the programme and paying stipends. Some beneficiaries reported being registered without their knowledge, while others said they were asked to provide personal information that was later used without consent. Many of the affected youth said they never received their promised payments, and those who did were paid irregularly or below the agreed rates.
Community leaders and youth representatives say the fallout has been devastating for individuals and families who were counting on the programme as a source of income. “We were told this was an opportunity to earn and support our households,” said one affected youth. “Instead, we’ve been left with broken promises and unanswered questions.”
Authorities say the irregularities came to light after audits and reports flagged discrepancies in records, enrolment lists and payrolls. In response, anti-corruption agencies and investigative units opened probes into the handling of funds, the recruitment process and the contractors or intermediaries involved. Some government officials and private actors linked to the programme have since been questioned, and legal action is underway in selected cases.
The scandal has once again drawn attention to the broader challenge of ensuring transparency in government programmes, especially those involving large disbursements and vulnerable groups such as unemployed youth. Critics argue that weak controls, inadequate oversight and rush to disburse funds created fertile ground for exploitation and fraud.
Public sector watchdogs have called for tighter accountability mechanisms, including real-time tracking of funds, biometric verification of beneficiaries and stronger sanctions for officials and partners found to have participated in wrongdoing. Some experts also recommend linking payment systems to actual work performance, rather than simple presence on attendance lists, to reduce the risk of ghost workers and fictitious payments.
Affected youth have appealed to the government for relief, compensation and a transparent process to rectify the situation. Many say they lost valuable time — and in some cases work opportunities — while waiting for the programme to deliver on its promise. Some have reported falling into debt or foregoing other job opportunities because they prioritised participation in Kazi Majuu.
In Parliament, lawmakers have weighed in, pressing relevant ministries and oversight bodies to account for how public funds were managed and to ensure that corrective measures are put in place. Opposition figures have used the episode to call for broader reforms in how employment programmes are designed, implemented and monitored.
Despite ongoing investigations, families of the affected youth remain sceptical about the pace and scope of action, pointing to similar past scandals where accountability was slow or incomplete. Youth advocacy groups are now organising forums to discuss the implications of the scandal and to propose concrete policy reforms that would protect future programmes from abuse.
The Kazi Majuu saga serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in administering large-scale public employment schemes, particularly in environments where systems for verification, reporting and financial control are weak. For the young people caught up in the fallout, the experience has left a bitter legacy of distrust and disillusionment — and a renewed call for transparent, accountable leadership in programmes meant to uplift citizens.
Image by Standard Newspaper
