President William Ruto and his deputy, Prof Kindiki Kithure, join youths in a dance at launch of the disbursement of Sh173.2 million Nyota business start-up capital to 6,982 young entrepreneurs from Nyeri, Murang’a, Nyandarua, and Kirinyaga counties at Kabiru-ini ASK Grounds, Nyeri.
President William Ruto is targeting women and youth with lofty promises in terms of billions in budgetary allocations in the next financial year, according to a draft Budget Policy Statement (BPS) for the Financial Year 2026/27
Keen on endearing to the two critical voting blocs ahead of the 2027 General Election, the National Treasury is promising various strategies in the next budget aimed at supporting women and youth programmes.
In the draft policy, the government plans to disburse Sh12 billion to 16,850 affirmative action groups and provide bursaries and scholarships to 178,500 needy students.
President William Ruto (standing), Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii (second left), MSME Principal Secretary Susan Mang'eni (right), and youths during National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) activation at Eldoret Sports Club on January 08, 2026.
“Efforts to keep girls in school will be supported through the provision of sanitary towels to 11.1 million girls, alongside 7,500 dignity kits for GBV survivors,” reads the draft policy statement.
According to the Treasury document, the government will also disburse Sh9.6 billion to support 660,000 women entrepreneurs, while 1,200 duty bearers and 9,000 community members will be trained and sensitised on eliminating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide.
According to the document, a further 99,000 individuals will be sensitized on gender mainstreaming, and 3,000 survivors will be engaged as front-line advocates in the fight against FGM.
The government is also committing Sh3.3 billion that the National Treasury says will continue to finance Affirmative Action Groups, expand financial support to women entrepreneurs amounting to Sh 3.3 billion, and implement the recommendations of the Taskforce on GBV and Femicide.
“The government will also establish three safe houses and GBV protection centers, intensify the national campaign to eradicate FGM, and undertake a comprehensive Special Needs Assessment Survey to inform future interventions,” reads the document.
In the financial years 2022/23 and FY 2024/25, the government disbursed Sh3.33 billion to 10,785 affirmative action groups and supported 155,580 needy students with bursaries and scholarships through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
The treasury document shows that through the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF), Sh3.12 billion was disbursed to 261,681 women entrepreneurs, and 361,481 women were trained in financial literacy.
"Life skills"
“In addition, 64,000 individuals were trained on gender mainstreaming, 43,700 resource persons and duty bearers were trained on anti-FGM strategies, and 11,485 persons received training on psychosocial support and counselling to strengthen the national response to GBV,” reads the document.
On youth empowerment, the document shows that the government will focus on training 90,000 youth in life skills and technical competencies to boost employability and wealth creation, while 43,000 youth will receive mentorship and training on entrepreneurship opportunities.
In the creative economy, the government plans to issue 16,300 licences to film distributors and exhibitors, supporting both local and foreign production and promoting Kenya as a regional hub for creative industries.
“The Government interventions aim to equip youth with entrepreneurial and life skills, enhance employability, and unlock the potential of youth-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” reads the document.
Youth empowerment and development remain a cornerstone of the Government’s Bottom- Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
According to the Treasury document, the government has provided youth-friendly services to 1,177,480 young people, including 72,623 beneficiaries of subsidized Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, and trained 94,298 youth in leadership and governance.
The National Treasury building.
Additionally, 56,350 youth were equipped with life skills, while 3,943 talents were identified and nurtured in arts, innovation, and creative industries.
“To promote economic empowerment, 28,003 youth entrepreneurs accessed loans totalling Sh 553 million, enabling them to expand business ventures, and 3,537 youth were facilitated to secure employment opportunities abroad,” reads the document.
The government says it trained 218,902 youth in business skills and 24,507 youth specifically on entrepreneurship techniques.
In 2025, President Ruto started going back to the young people and employ other narratives that made the downtrodden in the society vote for him in the 2022 elections.
From the empowerment programs championed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki targeting boda boda riders, mama mboga, State House meetings with grassroots mobilisers, President Ruto seem to be getting his groove back on the population that catapulted him to power in 2022
Since coming to power, the Kenya Kwanza administration has rolled out various programmes targeting the youth.
From the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota), to Hustler Fund which helps the youth to access credit, Digital Job and Opportunity Platforms (kuna form and ICT hubs), Internship and Labour Mobility Initiatives, ClimateWorx and Labour-Intensive Programmes, Asset and Equipment Support Events and Linking Youth to Public Procurement, the government has been leaving nothing to chance when it comes to youth affairs.
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