Ruto: 70 youths from each ward countrywide to receive Ksh50K to start businesses

President William Ruto has announced a youth empowerment initiative in partnership with the World Bank that will see 70 young people from each ward across the country receive seed capital to start or grow their businesses.

Speaking on Saturday, August 9, 2025, during the Nairobi County Economic Empowerment Programme at State House, the President said the programme will roll out in September, with each beneficiary receiving Ksh50,000.

“Mwezi ujao tumekubaliana na World Bank kwamba tutatoa vijana 70 kila ward. Kila kijana atapewa elfu hamsini kusaidia kuendesha biashara yake. Hii itafanyika katika wards zote nchini, kumaanisha next month tutawapatia vijana bilioni tano kufanya biashara zao.”

“We have agreed with the World Bank that from September, we will pick 70 youths from each ward. Every youth will be given Ksh50,000 to help run their businesses. This will happen in all wards in the country, meaning from next month we will disburse Ksh5 billion for them to do their businesses,” he stated.

This comes months after the government, through the Ministry of Cooperatives, announced plans to roll out a new youth fund programme to empower young Kenyans nationwide

NYOTA initiative

Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Trade and Cooperatives on April 2, 2025, the Ministry briefed the legislators on the project aimed at providing youths with Ksh50,000.

The initiative, known as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, is set for a national roll-out to benefit 70 youths in each ward across the country.

During the meeting, the Committee received a detailed briefing from officials of the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), who outlined the project’s objectives and its anticipated impact.

The NYOTA project is a scaled-up version of the Kenya Youth Empowerment Program (KYEOP), which seeks to increase youth employment, boost earnings, and promote savings among vulnerable youths.

MSEA Project Coordinator Caroline Kioko, alongside Senior Enterprise Development Officer Evans Ballut, outlined the project’s goals, noting that youths will each receive Ksh50,000 to either start or expand their businesses, with a target to reach over 100,000 youths across all 47 counties.

“Beneficiaries will receive a comprehensive package that includes grants, BDS training, and mentorship. Over 100,000 youths with business ideas will benefit from Ksh50,000 in startup capital to begin or sustain their businesses,” Kioko explained.

According to the MSEA Project Coordinator, the Ksh50,000 will be disbursed in two instalments of Ksh25,000 each, primarily aimed at youths with Form Four certificates or lower, including school dropouts. 

She added that the project was open to youths aged 18 to 29 years and 18 to 35 years for those with disabilities across all 47 counties.