Written by Were Kelly
Thousands of young men and women from across Nairobi County braved the chilly Saturday morning to attend a massive youth empowerment programme hosted by President William Ruto at State House.
The event brought together members from 1,115 youth groups across Nairobi’s 17 constituencies, each receiving income-generating equipment tailored to their requests.
Among the allocations:
- 380 tents and 38,000 chairs (one tent and 100 chairs per group for 380 groups)
- Over 200 carwash stations
- 120 public address systems
- 80 catering equipment sets
- 63 groups with 245 motorbikes
- Tailoring machines, salon and barbershop kits, juice vending machines, egg trolleys, pool tables, large format printers, photography gear, rickshaws, wood-cutting machines, posho mills, industrial ovens, welding machines, and carpet washers.
Additionally, 49 women’s groups received 300 sewing machines to boost small-scale textile ventures.
Entertainment came courtesy of top Nairobi DJs and musicians, including Bahati and Toxic Lyrikali.
Addressing 15,000 attendees, President Ruto declared that the empowerment programme would continue “uninterrupted” despite political criticism.
“We have no apologies to make. This programme is about economic independence for our people, and we are expanding it to every ward in the country,” Ruto said.
He announced a new KSh50,000 grant for 70 youths per ward across all 1,450 wards, targeting 100,000 young people nationwide. The initiative will be funded jointly by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank.
Ruto also defended the Hustler Fund, criticising opponents for lacking alternatives.
“Those lecturing us from posh hotels, sipping tea worth KSh1,000 a cup, do not know the problems of hustlers at the grassroots,” he said.
On politics, the President dismissed talk of a one-term presidency, stressing that “Kenyans have the final say” on leadership terms. He reiterated his commitment to uniting the country and eliminating tribal and divisive politics.
The event was attended by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Woman Rep Esther Passaris, MPs including Beatrice Elachi, John Kiarie, Felix Odiwuor (Jalang’o), Peter Orero, Mark Mwenje, Anthony Oluoch, George Aladwa, TJ Kajwang, Ronald Karauri, Tim Wanyonyi, and nominated MPs Karen Nyamu and Tabitha Mutinda, along with several Nairobi MCAs
