Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
Launched by President William Ruto’s administration, Nyota aims to empower 820,000 youths aged 18 to 29 through business grants, digital skills, and training that enhances access to government opportunities.
The development comes as Parliament considers a national law to harmonise revenue collection across all counties.
He cited registration of 29.6 million Kenyans under the Social Health Authority (SHA) and outlined measures to strengthen supply chains, maternal health accountability and emergency preparedness.
The Bank reaffirmed its partnership with the Kenyan government, highlighting the program’s role in creating jobs and supporting vulnerable youth nationwide.
The World Bank Board approved the project, committing approximately Sh29.5 billion over five years to support its implementation. The government has already begun the final phase of fund disbursement in eight counties, which is expected to conclude within two weeks.
Kagwe stressed that agricultural programmes must be designed internally, with counties leading the process to ensure interventions reflect their specific production systems and challenges.
Lawyer Fanya Mambo Kinuthia has questioned how a reported $180m World Bank grant for Kenya’s Grade 10 transition was used, citing stranded learners and lack of visible classrooms or uniforms.
Lawyer Fanya Mambo Kinuthia says the 2027 race will pit President William Ruto against Kenyans, citing police violence, low turnout, economic pain and unanswered questions over World Bank education funds.
The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Governor Amos Nyaribo, who is facing both political and corruption challenges.
Last month, the World Bank outlined seven laws and four policy reforms Kenya must implement before releasing the funds. Key requirements include amending the Competition Act to regulate firms with dominant market positions, allowing refugees to register for mobile telephony and M-Pesa, and introducing policies to reduce urban traffic congestion, including promoting rail transport.
Speaking at a Joint National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) meeting for World Bank–financed agricultural projects, Kagwe cautioned against what he described as “loose arrangements” in the design and implementation of donor-funded programmes.
The World Bank points out structural challenges in Kenya’s telecoms industry. While the sector is growing rapidly, outdated rules on spectrum allocation, infrastructure sharing, and market oversight continue to favour large incumbents, raising costs for smaller operators and consumers and slowing investment in new networks.