While Kazi Mtaani was meant to help unemployed youth across Kenya, not everyone got in through a fair process. In several counties, people raised concerns about favoritism, bribery, and lack of transparency during recruitment. The report by the Women’s Economic Empowerment Hub confirmed that favoritism was a real issue in some areas.
So, why does this happen? Below are the main reasons people gave:
1. Local Leaders Had Too Much Power
In many places, chiefs and assistant chiefs played a big role in deciding who got selected. This gave them too much control. If someone didn’t have a connection to the chief, their chances dropped. Some youth said they were told directly or indirectly that knowing the chief, a relative of theirs, or a local official gave you a better shot.
2. “Mtu Wetu” Mentality
This is when someone gets picked just because they’re from the same area, tribe, or social circle as the person in charge. It’s not about who qualifies — it’s about who knows who. A participant from Nairobi in the report even said:
“Let us avoid ‘mtu wetu’ mentality and hold our leaders accountable for our future.”
That statement sums it up. Some people got the job not because they deserved it, but because they were close to someone with influence.
3. Bribery
The report mentions that some applicants had to agree to share part of their wages with the chief or local officers to get selected. Others said they were expected to pay a bribe upfront. This created a situation where people who were ready to pay—or give up part of their earnings—were picked over those who couldn’t or wouldn’t.
4. Ghost Workers
Some slots were allegedly taken by people who didn’t even show up to work. These “ghost workers” were still paid, while real applicants were left out. That kind of fraud usually involves insiders — people who manage the lists and payments. It’s not favoritism in the usual sense, but it shows how unfair the system became in certain areas.
5. Name Removal After Approval
Another problem raised in the research was that some people had their names accepted, only for them to disappear later. There were claims that names were replaced at the last minute, often to give space to someone else who had a stronger connection. This made applicants lose trust in the process.
6. Lack of Public Participation
The selection process didn’t involve the public. If it had been open—where lists were made public and objections could be raised—these things might have been avoided. Instead, the decisions happened behind closed doors. That made it easier for people in power to add their own names or those of their friends and relatives without being questioned.
So what to change,
For the next season of kazi mtaani to be fair, the following should be fixed by authorities.
- The recruitment process should be transparent and public, with clear criteria.
- Final lists should be published for everyone to see.
- There should be a proper complaints system in place.
- Selection should not depend on the chief alone.
- The process should include equal access for all, not just those with connections.
Again, favoritism in Kazi Mtaani recruitment didn’t happen everywhere, but where it did, it blocked the youth who needed the opportunity most. The system gave too much power to a few individuals, with no checks. If the program is going to be fair and useful, recruitment has to be based on clear rules, not on who you know, how much you pay, or where you’re from.
