Over 100,000 Youth to Get KSh 50,000 — What You Need to Know

President William Ruto announced that starting next month, 70 young people in every ward will receive KSh 50,000 each to start their own businesses. That means over 100,000 youth across the country will get some cash to begin their dreams. Sounds great, right? But there is a catch you need to know.

The announcement came during an empowerment event at State House in Nairobi. Ruto was joined by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and other officials, all clearly excited about this plan. The President said the government has joined hands with the World Bank to fund the program, which is part of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement, known as NYOTA.

“I have said that, beginning next month, we have agreed with the World Bank that youths in each ward will receive business support. Seventy youths in each ward will receive KSh 50,000 to start their businesses,” said Ruto. This is not just for Nairobi, but for every ward in Kenya.

NYOTA is a government project running for five years, funded by the World Bank. The goal is to fight youth unemployment, money problems, and low savings. Simply put, it is meant to help young people find a way to earn a living and stop depending on their families.

Before you get too excited, there is a warning. Just days before this announcement, NYOTA officials warned Kenyans about fake online pages pretending to offer spots in the program. The program is free to join. No one should ask you for money or personal details on unofficial websites. If they do, it is a scam and should be avoided.

The official statement said, “Next steps on all applications will be communicated via the phone numbers used during the application process, and only through verified NYOTA social media channels.” So if you get a message promising quick cash from unknown sources, be careful. It is likely a scammer trying to take advantage of you.

For those who are registered and verified, this is a real chance to start a business. Whether it is a small shop, farming, or selling goods, KSh 50,000 can help buy stock, rent space, or get tools. It is not a huge sum but can be the push many youths need.

However, some questions remain. How will the government ensure the money reaches the right people? What if someone tries to cheat the system? Will KSh 50,000 be enough in places where rent and prices are high? These are important issues to watch.

Not everyone is convinced this will be smooth sailing. Critics worry about how well the government will manage such a large cash rollout. Past programs have sometimes faced challenges like delays, corruption, and funds not reaching the intended recipients.

Hustler fund wasn’t enough a bribe, he will keep reverting this until 2027 🤣🤣

— Snoopykenya (@snoopykenya) August 9, 2025

This is what you guys called a genius?

— Snoopykenya (@snoopykenya) August 9, 2025

This is rubbish @WilliamsRuto ! 1450 wards means 72.5m and share per individual youth is 714.00 shs only! Ponzi scheme 🤔 tokenism 🤔 poverty enhancement!

— Chris Mung’oma (@ChrisMWasike) August 9, 2025

At the current economic status 50k can only boost an ongoing business.
It’s not enough capital to start a sustainable buisnes, it’s a big gamble

— WildMind (@Gathumwa) August 9, 2025

More liesto the world

— Karis254 (@Gitaukariuki5) August 9, 2025

The youths pic.twitter.com/0vd7DOyJZr

— Yayha Sinwar’s Son (@Samscum254) August 9, 2025

If this program works well, it could help thousands of young Kenyans start small businesses and support their families. It might encourage more young people to take bold steps toward their future.

Featured image via Screengrab