Kenya Secures World Bank Support To Empower Small Businesses Across All Wards

       By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

President William Ruto has revealed a nationwide initiative to boost small-scale businesses, supported by the World Bank, targeting every ward in Kenya.

The plan involves disbursing KSh50,000 each to 70 selected entrepreneurs in all of the country’s 1,450 wards, totaling KSh3.5 million per ward and KSh5 billion nationally.

Speaking at a church gathering at Friends Comprehensive School Kivaywa in Likuyani, Kakamega County, President Ruto described the program as a strategic part of his administration’s long-term agenda to uplift grassroots enterprises and promote inclusive economic growth.

The goal, he noted, is to strengthen the foundation of the economy by supporting those most in need of capital.

The Head of State emphasized that the initiative is not a one-off intervention but part of a broader development blueprint aimed at lifting Kenyans at the lowest levels of the economic ladder.

He added that his administration remains committed to fostering unity and discouraging divisive politics based on ethnicity, region, or religion.

President Ruto highlighted several reforms underway, including changes in the agricultural sector that have increased earnings for farmers through subsidies and structural improvements in key crop industries such as maize, coffee, and sugar.

On healthcare, he urged citizens to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has already facilitated medical services worth KSh41 billion for over 4.5 million Kenyans since its inception in October 2024.

Regarding employment creation, the President mentioned various government efforts, such as the Affordable Housing Programme, the construction of modern produce markets, digital job investments, and international labor opportunities. He noted that more than 400,000 young Kenyans are now employed overseas.

He also spoke about ongoing development in Kakamega County, including a KSh3 billion electrification project expected to connect 35,000 homes and the resumption of previously stalled road works.

Nationally, he announced that the expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha and the dualing of the Rironi-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba highway are scheduled to begin later this year.

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula praised the government’s inclusive development approach, while Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja stressed the importance of equitable development across all regions. Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka lauded the President’s leadership and expressed confidence in his re-election, and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa called for justice in the case of slain blogger Albert Ojwang.

The event underscored the government’s pledge to transform lives through accessible development programs, support for entrepreneurship, and the unification of the country around a shared vision for growth.