The IMF Makes a Statement Alleging It Has Responded to Gachagua for His Criticism of the NYOTA Project

• The World Bank has ignored a report circulating online that appears to reprimand former vice president Rigathi Gachagua for his criticism of the NYOTA program
• Gachagua claimed that the money given to Kenyan youth under the program came from the World Bank and was misused for political gain
• In its clarification, the World Bank Kenya office stressed that no such information was provided, labeling the circulated document as fraudulent.

The World Bank has denied the information circulating on social networks that showed that the international financial institution criticized the former vice president Rigathi Gachagua about his remarks about the STAR project.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, February 10, Gachagua claimed that the money that the President William Ruto he provides as business start-up capital for Kenyan youth from the World Bank.

Why did Gachagua criticize the way the NYOTA project is being run by William Ruto

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He claimed the money was being misused for political gain, dismissing the STAR project as a political spectacle meant to deceive Kenyans.

Shortly after, a statement appeared online, allegedly attributed to the World Bank.

It appeared to reprimand Gachagua for his criticism of the president, urging him to restrain himself and refrain from introducing politics into government programs meant to empower the youth.

How the World Bank responded to the controversy about the STAR project

The document contained the World Bank’s letter and official logo, giving the impression that the institution was concerned about Gachagua’s views.

However, in its explanation, the World Bank denied the information, insisting that it did not come from the institution. Through its Kenyan office, the financial institution flagged the document as fake, saying:

“The World Bank Kenya wishes to clarify that the information being circulated now about the alleged response to concerns about the NYOTA project is fake. There is no such information issued by the World Bank Kenya.”

The project was launched by Ruto last October.

It was established as part of a wider commitment to invest in young people by expanding opportunities in employment and business.

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How many young people does the STAR project target?

The President announced that the program, supported by the World Bank, will benefit at least 100,000 youth across the country.

With a budget of KSh 5 billion, the program will identify 70 beneficiaries from each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards, giving each participant KSh 50,000 to launch their entrepreneurial projects.

This major project is in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which was central to the 2022 presidential campaign.

Along with other initiatives such as affordable housing, labor mobility, and digital jobs, NYOTA is designed to empower Kenyan youth to design, build businesses, and contribute to sustainable development.

Administered by the Ministry of Cooperatives, the program requires eligible applicants to register through a special calling process and undergo short training sessions before receiving funding. Finally, the government aims to reduce youth unemployment and promote self-sufficiency by encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation at the community level.

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