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Light moment as baby pinches Ruto’s ear at Nyota Fund programme in Malindi
05th February, 2026 03:06 PM
President William Ruto, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, shared a light moment with a playful child during the launch of the NYOTA Start-Up Capital programme in Malindi.
The incident occurred when one of the NYOTA Fund beneficiaries stepped forward to address the gathering on how the funds would help improve her small business. As soon as the woman began speaking, President Ruto took her child from her arms to allow her to speak comfortably.
While in the President’s arms, the child remained playful, repeatedly touching the microphone and pulling at his ears. Ruto then lightly scolded the child and told her not to disturb her mother before handing her back.
“Na huyu mrembo anaitwa aje?” Ruto asked the mother.
“Wewe unanichuna maskio kwa sababu gani wewe, lakini uwache kusumbua mama yako Fahima,” Ruto said as he chuckled, drawing laughter from the crowd.
On January 12, 2026, at the Kabiru‑ini ASK Grounds in Nyeri County, Ruto held a young child during a NYOTA launch, so her mother could speak about her business. When he tried to return the child to her mother, the child tightly clung to the President’s arms and refused to let go, prompting laughter and cheers from the crowd.
Ruto responded with a playful remark about the child not wanting to go back and continued with the programme while holding her.
The event marked the rollout of the NYOTA Start-Up Capital disbursement for youth in Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu counties. The programme targets young entrepreneurs and is aimed at supporting small businesses through funding, training and structured savings.
Under the first phase of the NYOTA initiative, each beneficiary receives Ksh25,000. Of this amount, Ksh22,000 is deposited into a business wallet for enterprise use, while Ksh3,000 is placed in savings under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Beneficiaries are expected to receive an additional Ksh25,000 later, bringing the total support to Ksh50,000.
The NYOTA programme is part of the government’s broader youth empowerment agenda and is being implemented in partnership with the World Bank. It focuses on business development, financial inclusion and job creation among young people.
