Ruto Urges Youth to Build Businesses Instead of Waiting for Jobs

By Gadiel Satin

President William Ruto has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an environment where entrepreneurship thrives, saying Kenya’s future lies in empowering young people to become business owners rather than job seekers.

Speaking during a government event focused on youth economic empowerment, the President said the country is laying the foundation for an economy that rewards innovation, hard work and enterprise.

“We are building a Kenya where enterprise is rewarded and where every young person has the opportunity not to look for a job but to build a business,” President Ruto said.

The remarks reflect the government’s continued efforts to support small businesses and youth-led enterprises through programmes such as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, the Hustler Fund and other initiatives aimed at increasing access to affordable financing, entrepreneurship training and business mentorship. According to the government, these programmes are designed to help young people start and expand businesses while creating employment opportunities for others.

President Ruto said Kenya cannot rely solely on formal employment to absorb the growing number of graduates entering the labour market each year. Instead, he noted that fostering a strong entrepreneurial culture would unlock economic growth and create sustainable livelihoods for millions of young Kenyans.

The Head of State urged beneficiaries of government business support programmes to use the funds responsibly and invest in ventures with long-term growth potential.

“Running a business requires commitment,” President Ruto said, recalling his own entrepreneurial journey while encouraging young people to remain disciplined, manage their finances wisely and stay focused despite the challenges they may face.

The government has increasingly placed youth enterprise at the centre of its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, arguing that supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will strengthen the country’s economy. Officials say the NYOTA programme targets hundreds of thousands of young people across the country by providing business training, financial literacy and seed capital to eligible beneficiaries.

President Ruto also said entrepreneurship should not be viewed as a last resort but as a pathway to innovation, wealth creation and job creation. He noted that successful businesses not only improve individual livelihoods but also contribute to national development by creating employment opportunities and expanding economic growth.

As Kenya continues to invest in youth-focused programmes, the success of these initiatives will largely depend on how effectively young entrepreneurs turn these opportunities into sustainable businesses that create jobs and drive long-term economic growth.