Interior PS Raymond Omollo has urged youth to take advantage of the government’s empowerment programmes to realise their dreams.
He told the young people that their future is not a distant dream if they choose to act boldly and responsibly.
“These aren’t just policy statements on paper. They are real, practical springboards of opportunity. It is now up to you to recognise that, step forward and act,” Omollo said.
He spoke during a youth forum in Kisumu county that brought together youth groups, grassroots entrepreneurs, community leaders and local administrators.
Omollo donated five tuk-tuks, 10 motorcycles, a matatu, and Sh500,000 to support mama mboga initiatives.
The donations symbolised government’s commitment to enabling young people at the grassroots to build livelihoods and grow their enterprises through targeted support and access to economic tools.
The PS said President Ruto’s administration is keen on championing practical, people-first solutions.
He said the President’s style of leadership focuses not just on national blueprints, but how those plans touch lives.
Omollo said the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda is a youth-centered framework designed to open doors in sectors such as agriculture, MSMEs, housing, healthcare, digital infrastructure, the creative economy and climate action.
“These sectors have been carefully selected because they reflect where Kenya’s untapped potential lies,” he said.
“And more importantly, they reflect where young people can lead, create jobs and innovate."
With nearly one million youth graduating every year, the job market has become more competitive than ever.
But Omollo believes the future belongs to those who move. He encouraged young people to build new mindsets, to organise, innovate, collaborate and plug into the programmes rolled out across the country.
“The government is doing its part — building infrastructure, opening funding windows, launching digital platforms and removing bureaucratic barriers,” he said.
The PS said leadership is no longer limited to politics or public office.
“Leadership today is about problem-solving. It’s about starting an agribusiness, running a boda boda sacco, building a health startup or mentoring your peers. There are many ways to lead — and Kenya needs all of them,” Omollo said.
He spotlighted youth-focused sectors such as agriculture, MSMEs, affordable housing, healthcare, digital technology, the creative economy and climate action, calling them launchpads for Kenya’s transformation.
Omollo urged young people to align their skills with these national priorities, noting that initiatives such as the affordable housing and the digital superhighway are job creators.
“It’s not just about shelter or internet access,” he said. “It’s about tackling unemployment head-on.”
The PS described SHA as one of the government’s most transformational projects and a perfect example of how a smart policy can meet real-world needs. SHA, he said, is designed to offer every Kenyan access to dignified, affordable healthcare, without the risk of financial ruin.
“For decades, families have had to sell land or hold harambees just to afford medical care. That ends with SHA,” Omollo said.
“If you have income, you contribute a small amount. If you don’t, the government steps in. It’s that simple."
He urged young people to not only to register but to become ambassadors for the SHA movement in their communities. Beyond offering health security, SHA will also create jobs in community health work, telemedicine, mental health support, wellness entrepreneurship and digital health innovation.
“This is more than just access to treatment,” he said. “It’s a pathway to economic dignity. And it’s a chance for youth to build careers while protecting lives.”
