Caught between poverty and purpose, youth in Nairobi’s Green Army face a tough reality: the initiative that saved them from the streets now risks trapping them in underpaid, unsafe labour with no protection.
When a Nairobi court declined to halt the Green Army programme last week, AK didn’t know how to feel.
As one of more than 3,500 youth employed through the county-led environmental clean-up initiative, AK says the job saved his life — helping him escape a cycle of crime and drug use.
But behind the reflective vests and planted flower beds, lies a reality many in the programme are struggling with: poor working conditions, meagre pay and a lack of health insurance or legal safeguards.
“I don’t know whether to celebrate or be sad over the court shutting down the case,” he says. “Because either way, we want better.”
AK’s conflicted feelings mirror the bittersweet truth of the Green Army initiative. For many like him, it’s a second chance. But that second chance comes at a cost.
On the surface, the programme — launched by the Nairobi City county government — aims to beautify the capital while providing employment to idle, often vulnerable youth. Every morning, the Green Army fans out across neighbourhoods to sweep streets, collect garbage, plant trees and maintain public spaces.
But behind the scenes, frustrations are building. The youth are paid as little as Sh500 a week, often without formal contracts or protective equipment. Their work includes night shifts and weekend assignments, sometimes under unsafe conditions.
That is why Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwour (Jalang’o) and activist Dedan Okello went to court, seeking to suspend the programme and force City Hall to address alleged labour violations.
“Our concern is the welfare of the youth involved,” Jalang’o said in court documents.
The petition sought to stop nighttime and weekend deployments, suspend payments until the case was heard and compel workers to return equipment — all as a means of pushing the county to take accountability.
But last week, High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi declined to issue conservatory orders that would have temporarily halted the programme. He ruled that stopping the initiative outright — even for a short time — would be premature.
“I decline to issue conservatory orders at this stage,” he said.
“Instead, this court shall set a clear schedule to allow the matter to be heard expeditiously.”
The judge ordered that the Nairobi County Public Service Board and other relevant entities be served within seven days.
Replies are to be filed within another seven days, with the petitioners given a final week to respond. The matter is due for mention on June 25, 2026.
Justice Mugambi also warned that parties who failed to meet these deadlines would face legal consequences.
As the case unfolds, young people like AK are left in limbo — caught between the hope that the petition might force reform, and the fear that it could take away the only job they have.
“If they end the programme without offering us something better, I’m back to square one,” AK says quietly.
Despite the criticism, the programme remains a critical income lifeline for many. Yet it also serves as a painful reminder of how quickly hope can turn into hardship if not backed by fair policies.
The Green Army was meant to clean up the city — but now, it’s the programme itself that needs scrubbing down, beginning with its treatment of the people who make it work.
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