Kenya's President William Ruto has announced a new cash programme that will see 70 women and youth groups in every ward receive Ksh50,000 each to start businesses in an initiative that targets 100,000 beneficiaries nationwide days after unveiling a similar initiative in collaboration with world bank, set to benefit thousands of Youths in the country.

The Initiaves are part of his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, to equip the marginalised groups in community with capital.

Speaking during a church service in Nairobi on Sunday, June 8, Ruto said his critics won't distract him from empowering those at the grassroots. “I don’t care about the noise. I am focused on transforming Kenya,” he stated, adding that past governments failed on key promises like Universal Health Coverage and affordable housing.

He also revealed a Ksh40 billion sewage system and Nairobi River clean-up project, expected to be completed by January 2027.

This new drive, comes days after unveiling a similar initiative set to benefit thousands of Youths in the Country.

Over 800,000 youths will benefit from the Sh20 billion government initiative, launched in partnership with the World Bank, to enhance employability through skills training, business support and job experience.

Ruto unveiled the National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, which is aimed at unlocking the potential of young people by equipping them with relevant skills and linking them to opportunities for self-reliance.

During the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations held at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County on Sunday, Ruto revealed that the initiative targets over 800,000 youth aged 18 to 29 years, and up to 35 years for those with disabilities.

According to Ruto, the NYOTA Project leverages the Hustler Fund platform, which he said has already attracted over one million applicants for its business support component.

“It seeks to improve employability through skills training, on-the-job experience, recognition of prior learning, entrepreneurial development, and the promotion of a savings culture,” he said.

Ruto emphasised that it aims to support at least 70 youths per ward across the country by providing grant funding, business training, and market linkages. He said the government has committed Sh5 billion in grants to assist 100,000 young people, each receiving Sh50,000 in seed capital to start their entrepreneurial ventures by August this year.

The Hustler Fund, Ruto said, has supported over 25 million borrowers, disbursed Sh70 billion, and mobilised Sh4.5 billion in savings. He said the Fund has introduced a revolutionary credit rating system that is transforming access to finance for millions previously excluded from the formal financial system.

"The Hustler Fund credit rating system is designed to offer a fair and transparent assessment of creditworthiness. It serves as an alternative form of soft collateral for individuals at the base of our economy, the historically excluded majority who lack access to formal financial guarantees such as payslips, title deeds, or other traditional forms of collateral," said Ruto.

He added that over 4.5 million beneficiaries with strong credit scores have qualified for increased loan limits. Additionally, 400,000 of them are now eligible for loans of up to Sh150,000 without any other collateral except their credit score.