Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday, June 25, engaged various leaders of youth groups in Nairobi after making donations of tools and equipment meant to empower them financially.
At a ceremony alongside Lang'ata MP Nixon Korir, Ruto met leaders of groups involved in enterprises including rearing rabbits, sewing, shoe shining, boda boda and matatu operators.
Ruto had his shoes brushed in one of the shoe shine booths he donated, taking the time to ask several questions to the shoe shiner who identified himself as Kevin Owuor.
He thanked Ruto for the new booth, revealing that it meant they no longer had to worry about long days working under the sun with no shade.
As he got his shoes shined, Ruto sought to find out what group Owuor led and the income-generating ventures its members were involved in.
He explained that they had organized themselves to make money as drivers and conductors in the matatu industry, sharing trips. He noted that they also had a shoeshine side venture which would be greatly boosted by the booth.
"I have a group of around 45 young men. I have not been able to recruit any women yet.
"We have been engaged mostly in the matatu business, but this donation will really help our side hustle and we are really thankful. For many years we have been braving the sun, so we are grateful," Owuor disclosed.
Ruto left onlookers laughing when he noticed Kevin sweating and asked him why he was nervous, with the shoe-shiner stating that he was only excited because of the donation.
The DP wished him the best of luck and went on to engage another youth leader, whose group had received donations of handcarts and rabbit pellets.
"These are pellets for rabbits which we rear here in Ngara, Nairobi. These handcarts will help us out a lot particularly in distributing water.
"It will help to ensure some of our members are not idle. Because when we feed and take care of the rabbits, others can go out and use the handcarts," the youth leader explained.
He also gifted boda bodas to another group of youth that thanked him and promised to support his ambitions.
One of the youth groups presented the Deputy President with a black t-shirt written: "Tuko Ndani na Hustler (We are together with the Hustler)," a term that the DP has co-opted to contrast the 'dynasty' narrative in the 2022 political posturing.
Ruto urged the youth groups to make good use of the donations, particularly to help them bounce backs from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on their businesses.
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