Govt Clarifies on Viral Post Promising Free Money For Youth

A file image of Kenyans in a queue waiting for services in Mombasa.
A file image of Kenyans in a queue waiting for services in Mombasa.
The Standard

The Ministry of Information Communication and Technology on Monday, November 22, issued a clarification on a viral post making rounds on social media promising free funding of youths.

Through a statement by the State Department of Youth (SDY), the ministry stated that the post which announced the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme was deceitful further warning Kenyans to take precaution.

In the viral post, youths owning businesses were promised funding for the enterprises from Ksh150,000 to Ksh700,000.

An image of the call for application post making rounds on social media on November 22, 2021.
An image of the call for application post making rounds on social media on November 22, 2021.
State Department for Youth

"National Youth Empowerment Funding Application Form 2021 online for registration exercise which is the quickest to apply for is now out for all bonafide citizens only who needs helping hands in their various Business and Education.

"The National Youth Empowerment Funds is a vision into giving out Ksh150,000 – Ksh550,000 grant to every Citizen under the age 13 to 65 years from 2021 to 2024," read the viral post.

Further, the post announced that the government had already begun issuing the grants, detailing how Kenyans could apply for the funding through a link. Additionally, the post warned that there were only 8 days left for the application window.

"November payments have begun for all applicants. Register to be part of the beneficiaries. Strictly for students and business owners. Check eligibility and apply through this link," read the post in part.

Upon clicking the link, applicants were required to fill in an online form that required them to provide personal details such as phone numbers, home and email addresses.

However, Kenyans have been cautioned against providing the details required for the application, even as a section of online users lamented over the increasing cases of fleecing schemes. 

Some social media users also urged the ministry to take action and announce when the legit application process would begin.

"When are you going to give us a legit one then?" Robaaah Kipkojy queried. 

This is not the first time the government has been forced to respond to a fake post promising funding and jobs to the youth.

While commissioning the National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NCCCC) on Wednesday, November 4, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i, warned that the government would take action against individuals who orchestrate such fraudulent schemes to get personal information from Kenyans.

"Now is the time that we need to invest heavily in training people in preparing ourselves in dealing with the issue of cybersecurity. This is serious business. This is no child play. We need to be very serious about this thing," Matiang’i warned.

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Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addresses delegates at the National Miraa Scientific Conference held in Nairobi on Wednesday, October 27, 2021
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