Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has delivered a blistering public condemnation of President William Ruto’s flagship NYOTA Fund initiative, boldly dismissing the multi-billion-shilling youth empowerment program as a scam lacking substance and tangible benefits for the nation’s young people.
The explosive allegation, made during a heated political interview, threatens to deepen political fault lines as the ruling administration battles criticism over its flagship economic interventions.
Maanzo declared that the NYOTA Fund operates as a political tool that helps politicians through image building, while he accused the project of abandoning its purpose to provide real economic development through its operational system. The Kenyan youth represent an essential force that drives economic progress and affects the outcome of the 2027 general election, according to his statements.
The government established the NYOTA Fund, which officially operates as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement program, as a primary element of its youth policy to provide young Kenyans with business grants and mentorship and training for building sustainable jobs and businesses.
The government officials, together with President Ruto, have defended the program as an authentic youth development opportunity that progresses through its stages and collaborates with international development partners.
Maanzo’s new comments create additional doubts about national debates because the senator claims that the program has been executed through disorganized methods that carry political bias. He questioned whether the projected outcomes align with actual funding disbursements and whether the beneficiary selection reflects genuine developmental criteria or political considerations.
The senator’s critique unfolds against a backdrop of confusion and misinformation around the program, including widely circulated but debunked claims and fake press releases falsely attributed to partners like the World Bank, which publicly denied involvement in certain communications about the initiative.
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