Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has sharply criticized President William Ruto’s latest youth empowerment initiative, branding it as a “poverty Olympics” and accusing the government of lacking a clear vision for long-term job creation.
The attack comes barely a day after the President hosted thousands of Nairobi youths at State House, where over 1,100 groups received equipment ranging from boda bodas and tents to catering gear and public address systems.
According to Ruto, the initiative is meant to boost small businesses and expand economic opportunities at the grassroots level.
However, Muturi dismissed the drive as little more than charity disguised as job creation. “Serious economies invest in innovation hubs, manufacturing skills, tech funding, and green energy jobs. Kenya’s ‘youth policy’ is basically: Here’s a wheelbarrow, now go make us proud. It’s policy cosplay, not policy substance,” he stated.
He warned that distributing boda bodas and small-scale equipment only entrenches beneficiaries in a cycle of low-income work, arguing that Kenya risks “economic stagnation” if more engineers, scientists, and industrial innovators are not produced.
“Small hustles are fine, but when they’re the centrepiece of national youth policy, it’s a confession that the government has no industrial vision,” Muturi added.
The former CS further accused the government of sending a dangerous message to young people, that they should not “dream too big.” He urged a shift towards large-scale investments in industries such as technology, manufacturing, creative arts, and renewable energy.
“Kenya’s median age is around 20. That’s a goldmine of potential if invested in properly,” he said.
While Ruto’s supporters hail the initiative as an immediate and practical boost for struggling youths, critics like Muturi argue that without a robust industrial plan, the country will keep celebrating survival over prosperity.
The debate now hinges on whether Kenya’s youth policy should prioritize quick fixes or long-term economic transformation.
