President William Ruto has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to combating unemployment through strategic investments in technology and innovation. Speaking during the launch of the 4th Kenya Innovation Week in Nairobi, Ruto emphasized the importance of positioning Kenya as a global innovation hub to create jobs and empower the youth.
“Kenya is now a leading destination for global venture capital. It is important that we harness opportunities as part of our plan to create adequate high-quality jobs for the young people of our nation,” Ruto stated.
To reinforce this agenda, the President announced the transfer of the Kenya National Innovation Agency from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports to the Office of the President. He also unveiled a Sh1 billion Start-Up Fund and committed to proposing a Sh500 million allocation for the agency in Parliament.
“At the moment, we are unable to move many ideas into commercialization because of the limited resources available. When I came into office in 2022, the Kenya National Innovation Agency had an annual budget of Sh18 million. In our second year, we moved it to Sh120 million. This year, the government has supported the agency with Sh200 million,” he said.
Ruto urged government agencies, private sector players, educational institutions, and development partners to collaborate in fostering an innovation ecosystem that drives job creation and attracts investments.
“Together, we can build an innovation ecosystem that positions Kenya as a leader in job creation, investment attraction, and sustainable growth,” he added.
Notable attendees included Sports Cabinet Secretary Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. Highlighting the importance of practical application, Sakaja remarked, “We must move these ideas into production and fix the wings as we fly.”
The initiatives underscore the government’s focus on leveraging innovation to drive economic growth and reduce unemployment in Kenya.
