Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka came under sharp criticism on Thursday as President William Ruto presided over the disbursement of Sh147.5 million to 5,901 youth in the Ukambani counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni.
President Ruto accused some politicians of politicising the World Bank–supported National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) programme, which his administration hasrolled out to address youth unemployment.
The remarks came barely a week after Mr Musyoka poured cold water on the youth empowerment initiative, questioning its impact.
The Head of State said it was misguided for politicians to attempt to gain political mileage from a programme designed to unlock the economic potential of young people by promoting entrepreneurship.
“Please keep politics out of this programme. You see, there are some people telling the youth, ‘Go and collect that Nyota money and throw it around’. Those are fools,” President Ruto said.
He was addressing thousands of Nyota beneficiaries at Machakos Town.
Several beneficiaries who spoke at the event said the Sh22,000 they had received would go a long way in funding their business ideas and boosting existing enterprises.
Last Saturday, Mr Musyoka criticised the programme during a funeral in Nzaikoni Village, Machakos County, arguing that the initial Sh22,000 disbursement was insufficient to start a business.
He urged beneficiaries to collect the money and “throw it around,” saying, “after all, it is yours. When you receive Sh22,000 from the Nyota programme, how can it help you start an industry?”
President Ruto urged young people to be wary of “naysayers who see nothing good in Kenya yet want to be leaders.”
He said the Nyota programme, which provides up to Sh50,000 in grants to 820,000 young Kenyans, is part of a broader set of interventions aimed at lifting the youth out of hopelessness.
Beyond access to startup capital, the programme also offers business training and mentorship.
“We want to give young people concrete opportunities to either work or do business. There are thousands of opportunities available in digital jobs, the Kazi Mtaani labour export programme, the affordable housing initiative, and now entrepreneurship,” President Ruto said.
He encouraged Nyota beneficiaries to take advantage of the Hustler Fund and other available credit facilities to scale up their enterprises.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who also addressed the gathering, said the Nyota programme was critical to transforming the country.
“This is the bottom-up economic transformation agenda that is setting Kenya on the path to a first-world economy,” Prof Kindiki said.
Labour and Social Services Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua defended the programme, describing critics as misguided and saying Nyota is designed to spur sustainable development by empowering young people.
“This initiative marks a deliberate shift away from dependency on handouts. It empowers the youth by giving them a fishing rod—skills, capital, and a savings culture—to build viable enterprises and secure their economic future,” Dr Mutua said.
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