NAIROBI—In a bold push to lift small businesses across the country, the Kenyan government has announced a Sh28 billion fund aimed at injecting life into the so-called “hustler economy” one small trader at a time.
The money will be spread across all 1,450 wards, targeting 70 businesses in each with grants of Sh50,000. It’s part of a wider plan under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, which the government says is designed to stimulate local economies and create jobs for the country’s youth.
“This is about grassroots transformation,” said Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during a forum in Lari, Kiambu County, on Wednesday. “It’s not easy, and it won’t happen overnight but we’re fully committed to it.”
The NYOTA programme is one of several initiatives being rolled out by President William Ruto’s administration, which has faced growing pressure to deliver on its election promise of bottom-up economic growth.
Some critics have questioned the impact of a Sh50,000 grant, especially in a country where the cost of doing business continues to rise. But Kindiki pushed back on the scepticism.
“To someone whose business capital is just Sh10,000, a boost of Sh50,000 can make all the difference,” he said. “It’s a starting point, and a significant one.”
The Deputy President also used the event to urge citizens to stay focused on development and not be distracted by “premature politics,” a likely reference to increasing political noise ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Let’s demand services from those we’ve elected, not just politics,” he said. “This government is working to stabilize the economy, lower food prices, and raise the earnings of farmers.”
Indeed, Kindiki listed several government efforts aimed at job creation and sector revitalisation. These include 500,000 online jobs under the Kazi Mtandaoni programme, 250,000 roles in the affordable housing sector, and 200,000 placements abroad through the Kazi Majuu programme. He also pointed to improvements in tea, coffee, and milk prices over the last two years.
In education, the Deputy President claimed that 76,000 teachers have been hired since 2022, with another 24,000 expected to join the workforce by September this year.
A youth employment scheme dubbed Climate WorX has also seen 40,000 young people hired to help regenerate water systems in Nairobi. Plans are underway to scale the programme to other counties.
The announcement comes at a time when many Kenyans are struggling with high living costs and limited job prospects, especially in rural areas. Whether NYOTA and similar schemes will meet expectations remains to be seen.
But for now, the government is betting big on small businesses and the idea that with the right support, a little money can go a long way.
