President William Ruto has launched a new government initiative aimed at helping 90,000 young Kenyans who have completed Class 8, Form 2, or Form 4 but have not been able to continue their studies or access vocational training.
The programme will support youths in learning trades such as tailoring, plumbing, and cosmetics, with all training costs covered by the government.
Selected participants will receive Sh6,000 every month to assist with travel and living expenses while attending the courses. After completing six months of training, the government will cover examination fees and issue certificates, giving youths both practical skills and formal recognition.
“We are looking for 90,000 young people who have finished Class 8, Form 2 and Form 4 and have not managed to proceed, but have a plan to do any course looking for a skill. There are those who would like to get skills, for example, they want to do tailoring, cosmetics and plumbing, but did not get the chance to go to college and do not have the skills. We are looking for 90,000 of them,” Ruto said.
“We shall pay for the course they want, give them Sh6,000 every month to go home and back to school. We shall also pay their examination fee after six months and give them a certificate, so that with the skills and certificate, they will also look for work. If there are more than 90,000, we shall still support them.”
The President explained that the programme is part of the broader bottom-up economic approach, designed to help young people who have been overlooked and provide them with opportunities to build a future.
“When we said bottom up is not a slogan, it is a plan so that those who have not gotten an opportunity to go to college and have a skill, we want to support them because they too deserve support from their government,” Ruto said.
He further promised that if the number of applicants surpasses 90,000, the government will expand the programme to accommodate more youths. The initiative is expected to increase youth employability and contribute to economic participation across the country.
At the same time, President Ruto is overseeing the NYOTA Project, which backs youth-led businesses with start-up grants. Each selected entrepreneur receives Sh25,000, with Sh22,000 for business use via Pochi La Biashara and Sh3,000 saved in the Haba Na Haba account under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
The NYOTA Project is intended to encourage entrepreneurship, create jobs, and strengthen local markets by allowing young people to contribute actively to business growth. The grants, funded by the World Bank, target youth aged 18–29 and up to 35 for persons with disabilities.
Successful applicants receive Sh50,000, with half disbursed initially to start their businesses. Mentorship sessions accompany the funds, and the first phase of disbursement began on January 8 in Eldoret and is set to continue for a week across 27 counties.
This rollout follows a pilot programme in November 2025, which supported more than 12,000 young entrepreneurs in Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, and Bungoma counties. President Ruto has also visited Nakuru, Nanyuki, Nyeri, and Machakos counties as part of the programme’s expansion.
