By Dorothy Musyoka
President William Ruto has announced that the government will double the budget of the President’s Award-Kenya in the upcoming financial year, a move aimed at expanding the programme’s reach to more students and institutions across the country.
The President said the increased funding will address long-standing financial constraints that have limited the agency’s operations and its ability to impact more young people.
“The Cabinet Secretary responsible will, in the coming budget, double the budget for this agency so that they can extend this most consequential training and reach out to our young people in more schools and institutions,” he said.
In addition to enhanced funding, the President announced plans to recruit additional staff for the President’s Award-Kenya and directed the Head of Public Service to identify and allocate a modern office to support the agency’s growing mandate.
He made the remarks during the presentation of the Gold Award under the President’s Award at State House Nairobi on Wednesday.
This year, a total of 1,252 young people qualified for the Gold Award.
President Ruto announced that recipients of the Gold Award will be given priority consideration in public service opportunities, while mentors who guide and support the awardees will also be recognized
Speaking at the event, the President said the Gold Award recipients will be given priority in public service opportunities.
“We are going to give consideration to the mentors of these young people,” he noted.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in education and training as a foundation for strengthening Kenya’s human capital.
“No nation can achieve sustained prosperity without investing in knowledge, innovation, and human capital development,” he said.
At the same time, the President urged young people to believe in their country and reject pessimism.
He explained that optimistic people see opportunities in every challenge, while pessimists only see obstacles in every opportunity.
“Kenya’s future belongs to those who choose hope, effort and purpose,” he said.
Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the government is providing strategic opportunities to empower young people.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who is also the chair of the National Assembly Parliamentary Committee on Social Protection, said the programme is nurturing young people in productive activities, keeping them away from drug and substance abuse.
Amani Njoki, a Gold Award recipient from St Austin’s Academy, said the President’s Award programme is instrumental in shaping young people into dependable adults, professionals, and leaders.
She called for the expansion of the programme to reach more young people, a request the President committed to implement.
President’s Award-Kenya CEO Margaret Kiogora described the programme as a transformative initiative that is turning young people into responsible and productive citizens.