More than 100,000 Kenyans will benefit from a new Government initiative to boost businesses among women and youth, President William Ruto has announced.
The President said each of the beneficiaries will be given Ksh 50,000 to start businesses or boost existing ones.
He said the new programme aligns with the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda, which is intended to lift those at the bottom of the economic pyramid and give them decent livelihoods.
Speaking at the Church of Christ in Africa in Embakasi West Constituency, Nairobi, President Ruto said: “We seek to uplift those at bottom and take them to a place of dignity.”
The President said the project will start by empowering 70 women and young people with the funds in each ward in Nairobi County.
He said this will complement the National Government’s efforts to create employment for young people in the capital city and beyond.
He said an additional 30,000 young people will be hired to work under the ClimateWorx Mtaani on top of 20,000 already working in the programme.
The young people are mainly engaged in the cleaning and regeneration of the Nairobi River Basin, which he said is well on course.
“I give you my word that, by January 2027, the cleaning up of Nairobi River will be completed,” he said.
The President pointed out that the government has committed Ksh 40 billion to the clean-up, including building new sewerage lines.
He said Nairobi residents now receive more piped water in their homes after the Northern Collector Tunnel was completed at an extra cost of Ksh 7 billion.
He said all these projects are aimed at improving the living conditions of Nairobi County, saying the city is the face of the country.
“You have my partnership and collaboration. It is my intention to transform Nairobi City,” he told the county leadership led by Governor Johnson Sakaja.
He pointed out that the Talanta Stadium and Bomas conference facilities under construction will also change the face of Nairobi.
“Kenyatta International Conference Conference (KICC) was built 50 years ago. We seriously need a new facility to make Nairobi a conference city. The facility we are putting up at Bomas will hold a capacity of 10,000 people,” he said.
President Ruto commended Governor Sakaja’s school feeding programme, known as “Dishi na County”, for helping keep thousands of children from vulnerable families in school.
The President thanked former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for agreeing to work with him in the broad-based government, saying their unity has made it possible for his administration to deliver transformative projects.
“The broad-based government brings all Kenyans together. We are one people, one nation with a common destiny. Therefore, we must not leave any Kenyan behind,” he said.
The President urged Kenyans to continue registering with the Social Health Authority, saying teething problems that had plagued the programme have been addressed.
“Those who were saying the programme is not working have now changed tune,” he said.
President Ruto donated a bus to the Church of Christ in Africa and also offered to replace the church’s old asbestos roof.
Present were Nairobi Deputy Governor James Muchiri, MPs, MCAs, and other leaders.
Muraya Kamunde
