President William Ruto on Thursday launched the disbursement of more than Sh245 million in start-up capital to youth entrepreneurs across five Rift Valley counties, a move that political analysts say also doubles as an early pitch to young voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking at the Nakuru ASK Showground, Ruto said the funds were part of the NYOTA programme, which he described as a strategic investment in young people as Kenya’s “most treasured resource”. He said the initiative targets both skilled youth and those who did not have an opportunity to advance far in formal education. “We are strategically investing in our youth because they are our country’s most treasured resource. The opportunities we are creating are both for young people with various skills, knowledge and competencies and even those who have not had a chance to go far in school,” Ruto said.
Under the programme, a total of 9,847 successful applicants from Nakuru, Baringo, Narok, Bomet and Kericho counties received start-up capital. Each beneficiary got Sh22,000, with an additional Sh3,000 deposited into their Haba Na Haba savings accounts at the National Social Security Fund, bringing the total disbursement to more than Sh245 million.
While the government says the programme is aimed at empowering youth economically and promoting savings, the timing and scale of the rollout have drawn political interest, with critics and analysts viewing the cash disbursement as part of a broader effort to consolidate support among young voters ahead of the 2027 polls, where youth turnout is expected to be a decisive factor.
