- President Ruto oversaw the release of Sh63 million to 2,520 youths in Garissa
- Funds are part of the NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital programme
- Garissa County will receive a total of Sh375 million for 7,500 beneficiaries
- Refugees in Dadaab and host communities are included in the plan
- Ruto says youth matters require his personal supervision
President William Ruto on Wednesday led the distribution of Sh63 million in business grants to 2,520 young people in Garissa County.
The event took place at Garissa High School grounds and brought together leaders from across the region. The funds fall under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, which supports youth-led businesses.
Beneficiaries were drawn from all 30 wards in the county.
According to the President, Garissa County will receive a total of Sh375 million under the programme.
The funding is expected to support 7,500 young people. Among them are 2,500 refugees living in the Dadaab Refugee Complex. Another 2,500 youths will come from the host communities in Dadaab and Fafi constituencies.
Each beneficiary under the first phase of NYOTA is receiving Sh50,000 to help grow their small enterprises.
Ruto used the occasion to defend his close involvement in youth programmes, saying he will not step back from matters affecting young people.
He dismissed critics who have questioned his direct role in the national rollout of NYOTA.
The President said youth empowerment is central to his administration and deserves his full attention. He added that job creation remains a key focus of his government.
While acknowledging that similar initiatives have existed before, Ruto argued that they did not succeed due to poor planning and weak implementation.
He stated that the current programme was carefully designed to close gaps linked to corruption and misuse of funds.
According to him, the Cabinet worked together to ensure the structure promotes fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Ruto said the nationwide launch of NYOTA will conclude in Wajir and Mandera.
Once complete, more than 123,000 young entrepreneurs across the country will have received support in the first phase.
He noted that such efforts are aimed at bringing youth into the country’s economic growth plan and helping them build stable livelihoods.
Among those who attended the Garissa event were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Principal Secretaries, Members of Parliament, and MCAs.
The President reaffirmed that investing in young people is vital for the country’s future, stating that their progress matters to families and to the nation as a whole.
