Interviews to select 100,000 young businesspeople who will each receive a KSh50,000 startup grant under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme begin on Monday across all sub-counties, President William Ruto has announced.
The KSh5 billion joint initiative between the government and the World Bank targets 70 youth from each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards, helping them start and grow small enterprises.
“Tomorrow in every sub-county in Kenya, we will begin identifying 100,000 young people because we want to use their energy, talent and expertise to transform our nation,” the President said.
He spoke Sunday during the inauguration of the Nairobi Archdiocese of the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Kenya (AIPCA) at the Kasarani Gymnasium, where he also unveiled major urban development plans for the capital.
Ruto said the national and Nairobi County governments have agreed to contract private firms to collect garbage and maintain cleanliness in the city.
“Nairobi cannot continue to be the city of filth,” he said, adding that the two levels of government will also collaborate on estate road upgrades and city lighting to enhance mobility and security.
Earlier, the President attended the 70th anniversary of the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Ziwani at Starehe Boys School, where he pledged KSh60 million to replace asbestos roofing and expand the institution’s facilities.
He also announced the government will deploy 20 more teachers to the school in January 2026.
Ruto further revealed that Nairobi County has been allocated KSh210 billion for affordable housing, new markets, and student hostels, noting that the funds are locally sourced.
“This is not money we have borrowed; it is money Kenyans have raised,” he said.
Highlighting what he termed “tremendous progress” over the past three years, Ruto cited economic stabilization, increased agricultural productivity, universal healthcare, and affordable housing, with 170,000 housing units currently under construction nationwide — including 93,000 units, 12 markets, and 20,000 student beds in Nairobi alone.
The President also said he continues to engage political leaders across the divide, including Raila Odinga, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Gideon Moi, in efforts to unite the country and accelerate its transition to First World status by 2055.
“Kenya has the people, knowledge and resources to get there. Ignore the doubters — it’s possible,” he said.
