Njambi Fever: Ruto has turned State House into a showroom
By Paulette Mboga, August 11, 2025Njambi Fever has criticised President William Ruto’s recent youth empowerment event at State House, Nairobi, saying the Head of State is focusing on short-term handouts instead of long-term economic solutions.
Taking it to her Instagram on Monday, August 11, 2025, Njambi wrote, “Kasongo has turned the State House into a showroom for short-term giveaways and handouts.”
Her remarks come after the President hosted more than 1,100 youth groups from Nairobi County over the weekend, where they received various equipment to support their income-generating ventures.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, thousands of energetic young men and women attended the programme. The attendees were drawn from 1,115 groups spread across the county’s 17 constituencies.
The groups received tools and machines tailored to the requests they had made ahead of the event. For instance, 380 groups benefited from 380 tents and 38,000 plastic chairs, with each receiving one tent and 100 chairs.
Other allocations included more than 200 carwash stations, 120 public address systems, 80 catering equipment sets, and 63 groups receiving a total of 245 motorbikes. Additional items distributed included tailoring machines, salon and barbershop kits, juice vending machines, egg trolleys, pool tables, large-format printers, street photography equipment, and rickshaws.
President Ruto said the initiative was part of his administration’s agenda to equip young people with the means to earn a living and reduce unemployment. He emphasised that empowering youth through practical tools would boost small businesses and spur local economic activity.
Criticism over the sustainability of giveaways
However, Njambi questioned the sustainability of such programmes, describing the State House event as a “showroom for giveaways.” She argued that while the equipment might offer temporary relief, it does not address the structural issues limiting economic growth or tackle the long-term challenges faced by the country’s youth.
While some praised the President’s hands-on approach to youth empowerment, others echoed concerns over whether such giveaways translate into lasting change.
For many of the beneficiaries, the tools are a welcome boost to their hustles, but critics maintain that Kenya’s youth need more comprehensive policies that combine resources, training, and market access to achieve sustainable empowerment.
Njambi Fever, known for her bold and unapologetic takes on political matters, has never shied away from calling out leaders. Her fearless commentary often sparks conversations, and this time, she’s aiming at President Ruto’s latest youth empowerment drive.