Government efforts to address youth unemployment through entrepreneurship are beginning to bear fruit, with beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme using financial support to establish income-generating ventures across the country.

One such beneficiary is 23-year-old Godwin Ng’eno from Kapsing’aru Village in Soliat Ward, Soin/Sigowet Constituency, Kericho County, who has turned the programme’s funding into a growing sugarcane farming enterprise while pursuing his ambition of building a career in Medical Biotechnology.

Ng’eno received the first NYOTA disbursement of Sh22,000, which he invested in sugarcane cultivation, a crop he says offered the best opportunity due to its strong presence in the region and an established market.

“Growing up in Soin/Sigowet, where sugarcane is one of the region’s major cash crops, I wanted to invest in a business that I understood and one with a ready market. I saw it as an opportunity to start building my future while waiting to secure employment in my profession,” he said.

He has remained actively involved in every stage of production, from land preparation to crop management.

His successful establishment of the first crop qualified him for the programme’s second disbursement of Sh22,000, which he has used to prepare additional land and expand the venture.

The expansion reflects the broader objective of the NYOTA Programme, which the government is scaling up to equip young people with financial support and entrepreneurial skills as part of efforts to reduce unemployment and promote self-employment.

Ng’eno credited the initiative with giving many young people an opportunity to create their own livelihoods instead of waiting for formal employment.

“I am grateful to President William Ruto and the Government for introducing the NYOTA Programme. It has given many young people hope and the confidence to start businesses instead of remaining dependent or waiting indefinitely for jobs,” he said.

Despite the encouraging progress, Ng’eno acknowledged that establishing a business has presented several challenges.

Rising prices of farm inputs, limited capital and unpredictable weather have tested the venture’s sustainability, but he remains confident that persistence will pay off.

“Every business has challenges, especially when you are starting. Farm inputs are expensive and farming requires patience, but I believe every challenge is an opportunity to learn and become better,” he said.

Looking to the future, the young entrepreneur plans to increase the acreage under sugarcane production, diversify into other high-value agricultural ventures and establish a modern agribusiness capable of creating employment opportunities for other young people in his community.

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59 Kenyans have been killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine. This is according to the watchdog Stop Russian Recruiters which has been keeping tally of the number of Africans who have been killed in the war.

The watchdog says that it has so far identified up to 2,984 Africans from 40 African countries who signed up military contracts with Russia to join the war.

Among the dead, Cameroon has the highest casualty numbers with a loss of 104 men followed by Ghana which has lost 85 men who secretly joined the war. Egypt has so far lost 81 men while Kenya comes in fourth with a loss of 59 men.

As more Kenyan men die in the war, the identities of the bodies of the dead recruits have been hardly retrieved from the war zones.

In April this year, Ukraine recovered the bodies of several Kenyan men in the Donetsk region. Among them were the bodies of 39-year-old Ombwori Denis Bagaka and 35-year-old Wahome Simon Gititu. At the time, reports released by the Ukraine military’s Defense Intelligence of Ukraine unit said that these Kenyans had been working for security companies in Qatar from where they were lured into joining the Russia army in its aggression against Ukraine.

For Russia, the young Kenyan men they are recruiting, and many others from different African countries, are disposable. Their vulnerability amd desperation to make money openly evident, the Russians send them to war as their frontline.

These Kenyans are the first to receive fire when things get thick. They act as a protective vest for the Russian forces.

In one video that was recently circulated online, Russian forces were seen recording Kenyan men in the warzones and mocking them in Russian languages, labeling them as fools who would die in the war.

In one video that was shared by Ukraine intelligence, a Russia soldier was captured on video bragging how Russia had so many disposable recruits from Africa.

“Behind their backs, he comments in Russian that they are essentially disposable cannon fodder,” Ukraine’s intelligence interpreted the message.

The Russian soldier went on to say:

“Look how many disposables are here. They’re even singing. So cheerful. No problem – once they’re sent to the assault, they’ll sing a different tune.”

According to a report by the the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kenyan men who were recruited to go fight for Russia started off by leaving the country on tourist visas. They would travel via Istanbul, Turkey, and via the United Arab Emirates.

The reports states that the government started rejecting travels to Russia via the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), these recruits started using alternative routes that include travel to Russia via Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa.

READ MORE: Blood money Russia is using to lure Kenyan men into war with Ukraine

The recruits are being hired through recruitment agencies that are based in Kenya. The report states that these recruitment agencies have also been colluding with staff at the JKIA, immigration officials, rogue officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Anti-Narcotics and National Employment Authority officers in order for the recruits to be allowed safe passage via the JKIA.

There’s also the allure of monetary rewards by Russia. It is claimed that men who are recruited into the Russian army as mercenaries are paid an initial payment of approximately Sh4.4 million within the first three weeks after signing the contract. They are then paid a monthly compensation of Sh540,000.

In the event a recruit suffers injury in the war, he is paid Sh5 million while compensation for those killed in Ukraine has been set at Sh24 million.

A related report by the NIS that was presented to parliament placed the monthly salaries that are promised to these recruits at Sh350,000 with bonuses of Sh900,000. It is however not clear if the recruits ever receive these monies.

A missing pistol belonging to Justice Aggrey Muchelule of the Court of Appeal has been linked to a spate of crimes including an attack that happened at a restaurant in Westlands, Nairobi over the weekend.

The gun has also been linked to gun-related crimes that have taken place in Nairobi, Kilifi and Kiambu Counties. The pistol has been identified as a Beretta 92-series model.

The pistol was recovered in Joska, Machakos County in the house of a suspected robber who has been accused by the police as a lead in the theft that occurred at Chaii Wali Café in Westlands. The robber was hiding at his girlfriend’s house. He was shot dead by the police after a shootout.

According to reports, when the police called Justice Aggrey Muchelule to inform him that the pistol had been recovered from a suspected robber, the judge told them that he had only discovered that the pistol was missing from his control after that call.

The judge’s pistol was recovered together with four rounds of 9mm bullets and three mobile phones. When the pistol’s serial number was checked at the firearm registry, detectives found out that it belonged to Justice Muchelule. The firearm had been issued to the judge in 2018.

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Justice Muchelule said that upon receiving the call from the police, he had rushed home to see if his gun was still under his control only to find that it was missing!

In addition, Justice Aggrey Muchelule told detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations that when he acquired the weapon in 2018, it had 15 rounds of ammunition.

This implied that since then, at least 11 rounds had been fired from the gun, most likely during robbery incidents that it has been linked with in Kilifi, Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

Justice Aggrey Muchelule also told the police that he had rarely carried the firearm since acquiring it, and that his firearm holder’s license had expired on October 1, 2025.

According to records from the Firearms Licensing Board, the gun had been listed as inactive on the same day that the judge’s license had expired.

Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has opened applications for its 2026 industrial attachment programme, offering continuing students an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience as part of the government’s broader efforts to promote youth empowerment and enhance employability.

In a notice, the utility company said the attachment programme will run for a maximum of three months, from September to November 2026, and is designed to equip students with hands-on skills and exposure to professional work environments across various departments.

“In line with the Government’s commitment to support youth empowerment, Kenya Power is offering exciting attachment opportunities to continuing students, to gain hands-on work experience and develop key employability skills,” the notice reads in part.

The opportunities are open to students pursuing Degree, Diploma and select Craft Certificate programmes at accredited learning institutions across the country.

“There are no vacancies for Information & Communication Technology (ICT)related courses for this intake,” the notice adds.

To qualify, applicants must be continuing students who will be available on a full-time basis throughout the attachment period.

They are also required to present a valid introduction letter from their respective learning institutions and maintain a valid personal accident insurance cover for the entire duration of the programme.

The company has issued separate application references for each category of applicants. Undergraduate students are required to apply using Reference No. KP1/ATTGRAD/26/3, while Diploma students are required to use KP1/ATTDIP/26/3.

Students pursuing Craft Certificates in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Power Option) or Mechanical/Automotive Engineering should quote Reference No. KP1/ATTCERT/26/3.

Interested candidates have been directed to submit their applications online through the Kenya Power website under the Public Information tab and Career Opportunities section.

The application window will close on Monday, July 27, 2026.

Kenya Power said only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, warning that any form of canvassing will result in automatic disqualification.

Also Read: Kenya School of Government announces 122 job vacancies

The Kenya School of Government has announced 122 job vacancies on behalf of its client, a leading hospitality group with hotels across Kenya.

The recruitment drive targets professionals across management, finance, hospitality operations, customer service, engineering, human resources, security, supply chain, and technical support functions.

The advertised positions are:

1. Driver II -3 positions
2. Kitchen Attendant III- 8 positions
3. Laundry Operator- 3 positions
4. Swimming Pool Attendant III – 2 positions
5. Public Area Attendant I- 4 positions
6. House Keeper III (Room Steward)- 7 positions
7. Hotel Attendant I – 2 positions
8. Waiter I -16 positions
9. Cook I – 17 positions
10. Artisan III (Plumber) – 1 position
11. Artisan III (Electrician) – 2 positions
12. Artisan III (Animator) – 1 position
13. Artisan I (RAC Technician) – 2 positions
14. Information Communication Technology Assistant II – 1 position
15. Accountant I – 3 positions
16. Accountant II – 6 positions
17. Supply Chain Management Assistant I – 3 positions
18. Hospitality Officer I – 1 position
19. Human Resource Management Officer II – 1 position
20. Senior Waiter – 2 positions
21. Senior Cook – 4 positions
22. Senior House Keeper (Public Area Supervisor) – 1 position
23. Senior Hotel Attendant (Receptionist/Cashier) – 9 positions
24. Senior Hospitality Officer – 1 position
25. Senior Hospitality Assistant – 1 position
26. Senior Accountant – 4 positions
27. Senior Chef – 1 position
28. Principal Hospitality Assistant – 3 positions
29. Principal Information Communication Technology Assistant – 1 position
30. Assistant Manager Supply Chain Management – 1 position
31. Assistant Manager Finance – 1 position
32. Manager Internal Audit – 1 position
33. Senior Internal Auditor – 1 position
34. Senior Security Officer – 2 positions
35. Senior Sales and Marketing Officer – 2 positions
36. Manager Hospitality Services – 1 position
37. Manager Facilities Management & Maintenance – 1 position
38. Manager Sales & Marketing – 1 position
39. General Manager – 1 position

How to Apply

Interested candidates can access detailed information about individual positions, role profiles, qualifications, and experience requirements through the official recruitment website.

Applications must be submitted online through the application link provided on the recruitment portal.

Applicants should clearly indicate the position they are applying for and upload all the required documents, including an application letter, curriculum vitae, certificates, and testimonials.

The deadline for submitting applications is August 4, 2026.

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The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has licensed 25 additional Digital Credit Providers, raising the total number of regulated digital lenders in the country to 252.

In a notice on Tuesday, June 14, CBK said the licensing is part of the regulator’s efforts to protect consumers from rogue operators.

DCPs are institutions that carry out their lending activities digitally through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes and loan products, including educational loans, development loans and short-term personal financing, among other products.

Since March 2022, CBK has received more than 800 applications and has continuously engaged with the applicants in reviewing their applications.

The review process focuses on business models, consumer protection measures and the fitness and propriety of proposed shareholders, directors and management teams.

“This is to ensure adherence to the relevant laws and, importantly, that the interests of customers are safeguarded,” CBK stated.

CBK noted that many other applicants remain at different stages of the licensing process, with most awaiting submission of the required documentation.

The new licensed DCPs are:

1. Baraka Credit Limited
2. Bashy African Credit Limited
3. Centenary Micro Enterprise Services Ltd
4. Equal Reach Credit Limited
5. Eversure Credit Limited
6. Glad Agritech Kenya Limited
7. Hawkins Credit Limited
8. Jiweze Credit Limited
9. KalTris Limited
10. KN Global Services Limited
11. Lin-Cap Limited
12. Nirvana Credit Limited
13. Onward Digital Company Limited
14. Pesakay Credit Limited
15. Rapidcash Ventures Limited
16. Rukisha Solutions Limited
17. Signature Capital Limited
18. Solvezy Technology Kenya Limited
19. Statim Capital Limited
20. Stemtide Credit Limited
21. Stepwise Credit Limited
22. Transventures Capital Limited
23. Trinmarc Ventures Limited
24. VisionFund Kenya Limited
25. WeLend Limited

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