Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni has disputed claims by the government that the Nyota program is among the promises of the current administration.

Senator Omong’eni has said that the Nyota funds program is a World Bank program that is set to run through to the year 2028, and therefore, the program will continue even without Ruto as the president.

Speaking during a TV interview on Tuesday, February,3,2026, Senator Omogeni has called on President Ruto to stop wasting taxpayers’ money in organising events meant to disburse Nyota Funds, as this is a World Bank-funded program that he should not use as a campaign tool.

Omogeni noted that the Nyota program is a World Bank-funded project that is running in other countries as well, and therefore, it should not be used by the government as one of the promises fulfilled by the current administration.

“What Kenyans have never known is that this Nyota program is a World Bank program and is not just happening in Kenya; you go to Rwanda, the program is there, you go to Angola, you go to Benin, the program is there. The only difference is that the presidents in those countries do not go all the way to Kisumu to launch the program. Even if Kenya were to elect a new president in August 2027, the program will still run to December 2028.” Omong’eni said.

About the Nyota program

Nyota is a five-year flagship project supported by the World Bank and implemented in partnership with several government agencies, including the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).

The initiative aims to empower more than 100,000 youth across Kenya’s 1,450 wards, with a minimum of 70 beneficiaries per ward to ensure equitable distribution.

Each successful applicant receives Ksh25,000 in the first phase to start or expand a business. Of this amount, Ksh22,000 is deposited directly into each beneficiary’s Pochi la Biashara mobile money account to support immediate business operations, while the remaining portion is allocated to mandatory savings.

Beneficiaries are required to undergo a three-day business skills training, followed by a four-month business development programme and aptitude assessments.

Training, savings and additional support

The NYOTA Programme also incorporates financial discipline measures, including a mandatory 12 per cent saving on portions of the grant.

Female beneficiaries who save an additional Ksh400 per month for four consecutive months qualify for a Ksh16,000 maternity benefit.