President Ruto distributes business equipment to Nairobi youth groups
A large gathering of young men and women from Nairobi County convened at State House on Saturday morning to receive equipment and support from President William Ruto’s empowerment programme, aimed at helping them start or expand their businesses.
The beneficiaries came from 1,115 groups across all 17 constituencies in Nairobi County. Each group received equipment tailored to their specific needs. For example, 380 groups were given tents and 38,000 chairs, with each group receiving one tent and 100 chairs.
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More than 200 groups received carwash stations, about 120 groups were given public address systems, 80 groups received catering equipment, and 63 groups were gifted 245 motorbikes.
Other groups received tailoring machines, salon and barbershop kits, juice vending machines, egg trolleys, pool tables, large-format printers, street photography equipment, and rickshaws.
Women’s groups also benefited, with 49 groups receiving 300 sewing machines. Seven groups were given wood-cutting machines, while six groups took home fully equipped posho mills. Additional equipment handed out included industrial ovens for baking businesses, welding machines, and carpet washing machines.
President William Ruto distributes business equipment to Nairobi youth groups at State House, Nairobi. (PCS)
The event featured performances by Nairobi’s top DJs and musicians, including Bahati and Toxic Lyrikali, who entertained the crowd.
Speaking to the crowd, President Ruto assured that the empowerment programme would continue despite criticism from opponents. He said those opposing the initiative were out of touch with the realities faced by many Kenyans.
“This programme aims to promote economic independence among our people,” said President Ruto. “We have no plans to stop it. In fact, we are expanding it to all wards across the country to reach even more people.”
President Ruto challenged critics of the Hustler Fund, accusing them of lacking alternatives to the government’s transformation agenda.
“Those lecturing us from posh hotels while sipping Sh1,000 tea don’t understand the struggles of grassroots hustlers,” he said.
On political issues, the President said Kenyans would decide the number of terms their leaders serve and rejected calls for limiting leaders to a single term.
"We will never succumb to the threats of one term by leaders who have no agenda for this country," President Ruto pointed out.
“We will not bow to threats from leaders who have no vision for this country,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of a broad-based government in uniting the nation.
“I am committed to transforming this country by ending tribal hatred and divisive politics,” he added.
The ceremony was attended by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and MPs Beatrice Elachi of Dagoretti North, John Kiarie of Dagoretti South, Felix Odiwuor Jalang’o of Langata, among others.
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