The government has significantly expanded the use of digital technology to improve the delivery of public services, a move President William Ruto says is enhancing efficiency, transparency, and the fight against corruption.
Speaking in Machakos town during the launch of the NYOTA business start-up capital disbursement, President Ruto said 23,000 government services have now been digitised, a sharp increase from just 320 services in 2023.
He noted that the shift has reduced direct contact between citizens and public officials, cutting opportunities for bribery and favouritism.
The President said many Kenyans had previously been excluded from government programmes due to corruption and patronage networks, a challenge he said digital systems are helping to eliminate.
Using the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme as an example, President Ruto explained that the entire process—from application to beneficiary selection—is conducted online, ensuring that opportunities are awarded strictly on merit.
“To remove brokers, middlemen and the culture of connections, we decided that no one would recommend anyone for the NYOTA programme. Every applicant had to go through the digital platform,” he said.
During the event, the President presided over the disbursement of KSh147.5 million in start-up capital to 5,901 youth beneficiaries drawn from Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties.
The funds are intended to help young people establish businesses, create employment and strengthen their economic independence.
President Ruto said the programme is aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, noting that it is implemented at the ward level, the lowest unit of devolution. He added that between 70 and 80 youth in each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards are currently benefiting from the initiative.
To promote inclusivity, the President said the programme does not require academic qualifications, stressing that lack of formal education should not deny young Kenyans economic support.
He dismissed criticism of the NYOTA programme, saying it plays a critical role in empowering young entrepreneurs, and urged the youth to focus on productive activities rather than political incitement.
President Ruto said young people will be the main drivers of Kenya’s transformation and encouraged them to pursue education, skills development and enterprise.
Highlighting economic progress under his administration, the President said inflation has dropped from 9.6 per cent in 2022 to 4.5 per cent, while foreign exchange reserves have risen from $5.7 billion to $12.3 billion, the highest level recorded in the country’s history. He also noted that the shilling has strengthened from KSh165 to KSh129 against the dollar.
The President said Kenya’s economy has grown to become the sixth largest in Africa, up from eighth place, attributing the improvement to what he described as decisive leadership.
The event was attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya, Salim Mvurya, and Alfred Mutua, as well as local leaders and Members of Parliament.
