Youth advocate Alfred Makotsi has taken a swipe at the government for what he described as deceptive empowerment tactics that fail to address the real needs of young people in Kenya.

Speaking during a political talk show on a local television station on Friday, August 1, 2025, Makotsi criticised the Deputy President and the Kenya Kwanza administration for scrapping structured youth and women empowerment funds, replacing them with what he described as unaccountable handouts.

“There is everything wrong with the government of Kenya, and for the Deputy President of Kenya, you have to create very sustainable ways of empowering young people. Why should you scrap the Women Empowerment Fund, the Youth Empowerment Fund, and not fund youth programs, then take the same money using other means and give it out through handouts?” he said

Makotsi accused the government of prioritising short-term optics over long-term impact, claiming that many of the so-called empowerment initiatives are marred by a lack of accountability and poor planning.

“We are not even told where this money is coming from. There is no accountability,” he added.

He highlighted complaints from young people in Makueni, who he said had attended an empowerment event only to leave frustrated and empty-handed.

“I have heard guys complaining in Makueni that sometimes the empowerment programs end, and the money is not even remitted to the group. Sometimes they share the money, and everybody gets KSh 64 after spending the whole day listening to the Deputy President. No!” he stated

According to Makotsi, empowerment should go beyond symbolic gestures and be supported by concrete systems that directly reach those in genuine need of support.

“The government is supposed to be organised. That is why we have village elders, chiefs, all the way up to the Provincial Commissioner. If the government wants to do something like empowerment, it must use proper structures to identify beneficiaries,” he said.

Makotsi questioned the logic behind offering a flat amount of Ksh5,000 to all recipients without assessing their actual needs.

“How sure are we that the people being given Ksh5,000 need that amount? Maybe they don’t need Ksh5,000, maybe they need Ksh10,000. Where is the assessment?” he asked

He concluded by warning that the current approach by the government appears more focused on winning political favour rather than creating meaningful change.

“The government of Kenya is trying to lure people through empowerment programs, which is not empowerment. That’s manipulation.” Makotsi said