Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has prided himself as the brainchild of the ongoing nationwide economic empowerment forums.

In a statement shared on his X page on Saturday, August 9, 2025, Olekina, while referencing the Nairobi Empowerment Forum held by President William Ruto at State House on the same day, lauded how the initiative has since gained traction and grown to impact people and livelihoods.

“I am proud to see President Ruto’s empowerment program flourish nationwide—a journey I boldly began in Kajiado when empowerment was just a dream. Today, it’s heartening to see others walk this path I cleared,” the senator opined.

While backing the drive, Olekina stated that the forums could play a significant role in helping decongest Kenya’s capital by impacting people’s lives at the grassroots.

Rural transformation

“The time is now: let’s decongest Nairobi and end rural-urban migration by equipping our youth to return home and spark real change. Sewing machines, boda bodas, water tanks, and generators aren’t just tools—they are engines of transformation for our rural economies. Let’s build Kenya from the grassroots up,” he added.

His sentiments come after Ruto oversaw the distribution of various items meant to support local businesses and groups in Nairobi this Saturday, August 9, 2025.

Among the items distributed to the groups included 300 motorcycles to be distributed to different bodaboda groups across the city; public address systems; salon equipment; car wash machines; sewing machines; laundry equipment; catering equipment; maize milling machines; welding and carpentry machines; garage equipment; tents and chairs; and water tanks.

Ruto on Empowerment

The event targeting the youth was attended by several city leaders, among them Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, and a majority of Nairobi MPs.

During the function, the president dismissed accusations that he had lowered the institution’s standards, stating that the house on the hill belonged to all Kenyans, and him inviting commoners there was not lowering its standards but raising them.

Ruto noted that initially it was only the royals who used to dine in the State House, but now it is open even to the common mwanachi, since his leadership is centred on the citizens who are at the grassroots level.

“Unajua hapa State House, zamani waliokuwa wanakuja ni wale wadosi tu. Juzi kuna jamaa mmoja alikuja hapa; wakati alirudi, akasema, ‘Nimeenda pale State House,’ lakini huyu rais amezusha sana kiwango, kwa sababu siku hizi watu walioko pale ni watu tu hivi hivi.”