President William Ruto Friday called out politicians politicising the education of Kenyan children.
He said the government will not allow desperate and tribal politicians to erect any barriers that limit access to education.
He noted that national schools were established to break down the barriers of colonialism and tribalism.
“We want our children to study in every institution available to them in Kenya, especially our national schools,” he said.
Ruto pointed out that these institutions have been built using public resources.
He made the remarks during the disbursement of NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital for counties in the South Rift at the Nakuru ASK Showground on Friday.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs), Lee Kinyanjui (Investment, Trade and Industry), Salim Mvurya (Sports and Youth Affairs), and MPs, among other leaders, were present.
At the same time, Ruto said no child should be sent home because of school fees, pointing out that capitation funds were sent to the institutions before they opened earlier this week.
He explained that the government had increased the education budget from Sh500 billion to Sh700 billion to ensure that no child is left behind in schooling.
The President noted that the government has hired 100,000 teachers to address shortages, including the 24,000 who will report to schools towards the end of this month.
“The number of teachers we have employed in the past three years is the largest in the history of the country,” he said.
Ruto said the youth are at the centre of investments the government is making to unlock opportunities.
“We are deliberate about the youth agenda. For the first time in Kenya, we have a concrete, deliberate, and intentional plan on how we create jobs and other opportunities for the youth,” he said.
He noted that the Affordable Housing Programme has created more than 500,000 opportunities and labour mobility over 400,000 jobs in the last three years while 250,000 young people are engaged in the digital programme.
Ruto urged politicians not to incite the youth to violence, but instead empower them to pursue their dreams.
“If you have a better plan, explain it to the people of Kenya. However, do not incite young people to violence so that you can get votes. The youth are focused on bettering their lives,” he said.
On the NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital disbursement for Nakuru, Baringo, Narok, Bomet and Kericho counties, more than Sh245 million was disbursed to 9,847 successful applicants.
They received Sh22,000 directly into their mobile phones to grow their businesses while an additional Sh3,000 went to the beneficiaries’ savings accounts at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to promote a culture of saving and long-term financial security.
Ruto urged the youth to take advantage of opportunities made available by the government.
“Opportunities will not come looking for you at home. You must go after them,” he said.
Ruto said the NYOTA programme was implemented transparently on a digital platform and without human interference to ensure that every Kenyan has a fair chance.
“There were no connections as we are accustomed to. Kenya has been held back because one must know someone who knows someone,” he said.
Ruto explained that academic certificates are a qualification to apply for or benefit from the NYOTA business support programme.
All that is required is for young people to be between 19 and 29 years old irrespective of whether they have been to school or not. This ensures that every young person has a chance.
“The qualification for the programme is no qualification.”
He said the funds are not a loan, but a grant.
To ensure access to credit for business development, he said the government is disbursing Sh150 million through the Hustler Fund on a daily basis.
Later, President Ruto embarked on a development tour of Baringo County. He launched the tarmacking of Sirwa-Kimgoron road in Mogotio Constituency.
He also laid the foundation stone for the 528-unit Mogotio Affordable Housing Project and commissioned the Mogotio Modern Market.
Ruto inspected the Mogotio Sports Academy and opened the tuition block at Mogotio Township Day Senior School.
Oparanya urged the beneficiaries to invest in businesses they understand well so that they can flourish.
Governor Kihika urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the fund to grow their businesses.
“Do with that money what you are supposed to do with it. Do not divert it to other uses,” she said.
She announced a waiver on business licence fees for the first year for Nakuru County beneficiaries to further support their enterprises.
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