By Michelle Ndaga
Pictures and video clips showing thousands of young Kenyans leaving State House, Nairobi, laden with motorbikes, sewing machines, carwash kits, tents, and other business tools are circulating widely, drawing a wave of public praise for President William Ruto’s latest youth empowerment initiative.
The images, captured during an event held last weekend, depict more than 15,000 young men and women from Nairobi’s 17 constituencies receiving equipment to start or expand their small businesses. The colourful forum featured music performances, lively crowds, and speeches from national and county leaders, creating a celebratory mood on the State House lawns.“We will expand empowerment to every ward in Kenya,” President Ruto declared, unveiling the NYOTA programme in partnership with the World Bank.
Starting September, the plan will see 70 youths in each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards receive KSh 50,000 each to boost their enterprises, targeting 100,000 young entrepreneurs in the first phase. Backed by a KSh 5 billion grant, the initiative will also provide mentorship and business training, with priority given to youth under 30 — or up to 35 for persons with disabilities — who have limited formal education.
The circulating images have ignited positive reactions across the country, with many Kenyans commending the scale of the programme and its focus on direct, tangible support for ordinary citizens. Supporters have hailed it as “a real show of empowerment” and urged for its swift expansion to all counties.
