The government has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment through expanded financing, digital job creation and entrepreneurship support, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has said.
Speaking at the launch of the KSh258.4 million NYOTA Business Capital Support programme at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Kabogo said the initiative will benefit 10,337 young entrepreneurs from Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado counties.
The event was presided over by President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Kabogo said the NYOTA project is designed to create employment opportunities, boost income generation and promote a culture of savings among young people, noting that access to affordable capital remains a major barrier to youth-led enterprises.
“The government is deliberate about empowering young people with skills, capital and digital opportunities to enable them participate meaningfully in the economy,” he said.
The ICT CS highlighted the role of the digital economy in job creation, revealing that more than 300,000 jobs have been created through Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms and other digital platforms.
He further disclosed that five million smartphones have so far been assembled locally, retailing between KSh6,000 and KSh8,000, a move aimed at increasing access to digital services and opportunities.
Kabogo said the government has established 350 digital hubs in TVET institutions, with plans underway to roll out 1,450 digital hubs in every ward nationwide to support digital skills training, innovation and bridge the digital divide.
In addition, the government is installing 100,000 kilometres of high-speed fibre optic infrastructure across the country to improve connectivity and support the growth of the digital economy.
The event was attended by several Cabinet Secretaries, governors, principal secretaries, members of parliament and other leaders.