The government has set aside Ksh105 billion to support young people and small businesses in the 2025/2026 budget.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, while presenting the budget in the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, said that in the Ksh105 billion budget, the National Youth Service will receive Ksh10 billion for training and recruitment.
He further announced an increase of Ksh318 million to the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, which provides loans to young entrepreneurs.
For the creative sector, under the Film Department Service, the government allocated Ksh990 million to be used for entertainment.
Additionally, the government proposed Ksh3.6 billion for the National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program.
“I have proposed Ksh105.6 billion for these initiatives. This allocation includes: Ksh10.0 billion for the National Youth Service; Ksh3.6 billion to National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA), and Ksh318 million for the Youth Enterprise Development Fund."
"In addition, I have proposed Ksh990 million for Film Development Services,” CS Mbadi said.
Mbadi said that the Ksh300 million top-up would be allocated to the Hustler Fund to help with the loans.
This will provide low-interest loans to households and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to ease their financing difficulties.
Mbadi revealed that the Youth Enterprise Development Fund will receive an additional Ksh308 million to support young entrepreneurs through loans and business support.
“I have proposed an additional allocation of Ksh300 million to the Hustler Fund to scale up access to credit for households and MSMEs. I have also proposed an additional Ksh308 million for the youth enterprise development fund,” Mbadi said.
He noted that the proposed allocation is to expand financial and developmental job opportunities in the country.
To create more job opportunities for young people, CS Mbadi said the government has begun rolling out Climate WorX, a nationwide initiative aimed at employing over 110,000 youth across all 47 counties.
The programme, which was first launched last year in Nairobi’s informal settlements, is now being expanded countrywide following its initial success.
The CS described the initiative as a social support programme that empowers young people to improve their communities.
“The youth will help build roads, plant trees, and clean up the environment in their neighbourhoods,” he said.
