Malindi, Kilifi County — President William Ruto has said his government is delivering on the promises it made to Kenyans, urging young people to take advantage of government programmes aimed at job creation and business growth.
The President spoke on Wednesday during the NYOTA Project Business Start-Up Capital Disbursement Forum held at Buntwani Waterfront Park in Malindi. The event brought together 5,040 young entrepreneurs from Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu counties.
During the forum, the government released Ksh.252 million to support youth-led businesses across 60 wards — 35 in Kilifi, 15 in Tana River, and 10 in Lamu.
President Ruto said the programme is designed to support disadvantaged youth, especially those who were unable to continue with formal education, by giving them capital and skills to start small businesses.
Under the NYOTA Project, each beneficiary will receive Ksh.50,000 in two phases.
In the first phase, beneficiaries get Ksh.25,000, with Ksh.22,000 sent directly to support business activities and Ksh.3,000 deposited into a Haba na Haba savings account managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
In the second phase, another Ksh.25,000 will be released, bringing the total support per youth to Ksh.50,000.
The President said the programme is part of the government’s broader plan to empower young people, reduce unemployment, and turn youths into job creators instead of job seekers. He added that skills training and access to contracts will help strengthen Kenya’s workforce and economy.
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, who also addressed the forum, highlighted other government initiatives targeting youth employment. These include the Affordable Housing Programme, digital jobs, and overseas employment opportunities, which he said are helping to bridge the unemployment gap.
Prof. Kindiki also praised the President for the decision to waive PAYE tax for low-income earners, saying the move will ease the financial burden on workers and leave more money in their pockets.
The NYOTA Project is one of several initiatives under the Kenya Kwanza administration aimed at supporting youth empowerment, enterprise development, and inclusive economic growth.
