NYERI, Kenya — President William Ruto has said the government has rolled out a clear and deliberate strategy to tackle youth unemployment, insisting that job creation cannot be left to chance.
Speaking at Kabiruini Showground in Nyeri County during the issuance of NYOTA grants to young people, Ruto said the state has, for the first time, put in place a structured plan to ensure that young Kenyans transition from education into meaningful employment.
“For the first time, I can confirm that the government of Kenya has a clear plan on how young people are going to access jobs,” the President said.
Ruto noted that the government has invested heavily in education over the years and must now ensure that the investment translates into economic returns.
“The Sh700 billion we have spent educating your children must deliver value. People leaving school must be placed in areas where they can contribute to the progress of our nation,” he said.
Housing, digital jobs and labour export
The President outlined several interventions under the government’s employment agenda, highlighting large-scale infrastructure projects as a key driver of job creation.
He said the affordable housing programme, one of the flagship initiatives of his administration, is not only about increasing home ownership but also creating jobs across the value chain.
“Today, more than 500,000 Kenyans are working under the housing programme,” Ruto said.
He added that the government has expanded the labour export programme to open up overseas job opportunities for Kenyans, while investing in digital infrastructure to grow employment in the technology sector.
“We want one million young people working in the digital space. Currently, we have about 300,000, and we are expanding this number,” he said.
NYOTA grants target 800,000 youth
Ruto said the NYOTA programme is a central pillar of the government’s youth employment strategy, with a target of reaching 800,000 young people across the country.
Implemented with support from the World Bank, the initiative provides eligible youth with seed capital of up to Sh50,000, alongside training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and life skills.
The programme targets vulnerable and low-income youth to support enterprise development and self-employment.
The President urged young people to take advantage of the opportunity, saying the willingness to seek better livelihoods reflects the resilience of Kenyans.
“I have seen young women with young children also seeking to benefit from this programme. This is not about politics. We all want to have thriving businesses,” he said.
Kindiki defends grant size
Earlier, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki dismissed criticism from leaders who have questioned the adequacy of the NYOTA grant, saying the programme is intended to provide a starting point rather than a complete solution.
“If you think the money is small, we will give what we are able to give now. Go and look for more money and add to what the government is giving the youth,” Kindiki said.
