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President William Ruto has announced that over 100,000 small and micro enterprises (SMEs) across Kenya will benefit from a Sh5 billion grant aimed at strengthening grassroots businesses.
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Speaking during an interdenominational service at Friends Comprehensive School Kivaywa in Kakamega’s Likuyani constituency, the President said the government, in collaboration with the World Bank, will issue Sh50,000 to 70 business owners in each of the country’s 1,450 wards—amounting to Sh3.5 million per ward.
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the government’s manifesto, which seeks to uplift low-income earners and promote inclusive economic growth.
“This is not a short-term handout. It is a transformative programme designed to uplift those at the bottom of the economic pyramid,” he stated.
The President was joined by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Environment CS Deborah Mlongo, and Governors Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega), Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), and Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), among other leaders.
He reaffirmed his commitment to national unity and the elimination of tribal, religious, and regional divisions, saying the broad-based government is rallying all Kenyans around a shared development agenda.
Ruto outlined key programmes under implementation, including reforms in agriculture, affordable housing, universal health coverage, digital jobs, and construction of modern markets.
Highlighting success in healthcare, the President revealed that 4.5 million Kenyans have so far received services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) at a cost of Sh41 billion since October 2024. He encouraged more citizens to enroll.
He also cited progress in job creation, noting that Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme, digital economy efforts, and international labour agreements have provided employment to hundreds of thousands of youth.
“Right now, over 400,000 young Kenyans are working abroad,” he said.
In Kakamega County, President Ruto announced a Sh3 billion allocation to connect 35,000 homes to electricity. He also confirmed that road construction projects in the area had resumed.
Nationally, he noted that major infrastructure projects such as the dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba highway would commence in August, with the Standard Gauge Railway extension from Naivasha set to begin by year-end.
Speaker Wetang’ula praised the President’s inclusive development approach, while Governor Sakaja said equitable implementation of projects was ensuring no region was sidelined.
Governor Lusaka commended Ruto’s achievements, saying they justify a second term. Meanwhile, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa called for a thorough investigation into the death of Albert Ojwang.
