Principal Secretary for Cooperatives
Susan Mang’eni during the launch of the NYOTA Project
Business Start-Up Capital disbursement at the ASK Grounds in Nakuru on January 9,
2026/SUSAN MANG’ENI

Principal Secretary for Cooperatives Susan Mang’eni has cautioned young women against financially exploiting the men under the Nyota Fund programme, particularly through frequent requests for money and transport fare.

Speaking during an address to
beneficiaries, the PS urged the young women to focus on hard work and personal
effort instead of depending on male peers for financial support.



She noted that the habit of asking
young men for fare is contributing to unnecessary financial strain among many
of them.



“Ladies, please don’t financially
drain our boys, kazi ni kujituma. Msiitishe fare,” she said, stressing that
economic empowerment initiatives are meant to encourage independence.



The PS also highlighted how changing
social interactions among youth have led to casual name-calling and
expectations that often result in financial pressure.



She advised both male and female
beneficiaries to maintain respectful boundaries.



“Kuna majina sasa mtaanza kuitwa.
Master, wengine mnaitwa bossy, wengine wakudumu, mnaitwa kiongoss. Alafu
watawaita mababes. Kama wewe jina yako ni Ibrahim, mtu hajakuitaga babe, leo
umwambie hapana akuite tu Ibrahim,” she said.



(They will start calling you some
pet names like Master, Bossy, Wakudumu, Kiongoss. Others will also be called
babes. If your name is Ibrahim and someone who doesn’t call you babe does that
today, tell her no. Your name is Ibrahim).



PS Mang’eni added that some of the
young men, in an attempt to meet these expectations, have been pushed into
unnecessary spending that affects their ability to focus on income-generating
activities.



“Alafu muambiwe muanze kutuma fair.
Nyinyi madem msifilisishe vijana wetu. Kazi ni kujituma kama hiyo ndio nia yako,
jitume. Ni kujituma. Usiitishe fare kwa vijana wetu ili wapate fare wafanye
biashara,” she said.



(Then some of you will be asked to
send fare. Ladies, do not drive our young men into financial lack. The goal is
to make something out for yourself. So work hard. Do not ask for fare from
our young men so that they can use the money for business.)



Mang’eni emphasised that the Nyota programme is designed to empower youth to become self-reliant and to build
sustainable livelihoods.



She urged beneficiaries to use the
opportunity for their growth and avoid habits that undermine financial
discipline.



The PS called on all participants to
embrace responsibility, mutual respect, and personal effort as part of their
journey in the empowerment programme.



Nyota is designed to provide seed capital to young
entrepreneurs, enabling them to start or expand businesses while supporting job
creation at the grassroots level.



The programme has already been rolled out in Kakamega,
Eldoret, and Nakuru counties and the Central region to benefit Nyeri, Murang’a,
Nyandarua, and Kirinyaga counties.



Other regions where the fund has since been rolled out
are Samburu, Marsabit, Laikipia, and Isiolo counties.



Further disbursements have been planned for the Meru, Machakos, Nairobi, Coast, and Nyanza regions.