Drawn from 1,115 groups from Nairobi County’s 17 constituencies, they received various types of equipment from the President to start or boost their income-generating activities.
Each group received equipment according to the request they had made. For example, 380 groups benefitted from 380 tents and 38,000 chairs, with each getting a tent and 100 chairs.
More than 200 groups received carwash stations, 120 public address systems went to a similar number of groups, 80 got catering equipment while 63 groups were gifted 245 motorbikes.
Other groups received tailoring machines, salon and barbershop kits, juice vending machines, egg trolleys, pool tables, large format printers, street photography equipment as well as rickshaws.
Some 49 women groups benefitted from 300 sewing machines. Seven groups also got wood-cutting machines, while six walked away with fully-kitted posho mills.
Others received industrial ovens to start baking business, welding machines and carpet washing machines.
During the event, the beneficiaries were entertained by Nairobi’s top DJs and musicians, among them Bahati and Toxic Lyrikali.
Addressing the 15,000 young men and women, President Ruto said the ongoing empowerment programme will continue uninterrupted despite opposition from his critics.
The President defended the programme, saying those opposed to the initiative have lost touch with reality.
Saying he had no apologies to make over the programme, the President pointed out that economic empowerment of Kenyans is a priority.
He pointed out that the initiative is designed to promote economic independence among Kenyans.
“We want to tell those criticising empowerment that we have no plans to stop the initiative. In fact, we are expanding it to the wards across the country to reach more people,” he said.
The President announced that the government, in collaboration with the World Bank, will fund 70 young people from each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards with KSh50,000. The total number of beneficiaries will be 100,000.
“We are empowering 70 youths from each ward so that they can start small businesses in our effort to make them economically independent,” the President.
He also told off those opposed to the Hustler Fund, saying they have no alternatives to the transformation agenda.
“These people are lecturing us from posh hotels and taking tea worth KSh1,000 a cup do not know the problems facing hustlers at the grassroots,” he said.
On politics, President Ruto said Kenyans have the final say on the number of terms leaders would serve.
“We will never succumb to the threats of one term by leaders who have no agenda for this country,” President Ruto pointed out.
He explained that the broad-based government was the best option for uniting the country.
“I am committed to the transformation of this country. We must eliminate tribal hatred and divisive politics,” he said.
Present at the event were Governor Johnson Sakaja, MPs Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), Felix Odiwuor Jalang’o (Langata), Esther Passaris (Woman Rep), Peter Orero (Kibra), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), George Aladwa (Makadara), TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka), Ronald Karauri (Kasarani), Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands), Nominated MPs Karen Nyamu and Tabitha Mutinda, and MCAs.
