Ruto Explains How Kenyan Youth Can Become Millionaires
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President William Ruto has urged Kenyan youth to avoid betting and instead invest and save part of their income to build lasting wealth.
Speaking during the NITA graduation ceremony at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, October 8, Ruto said the government was making it easier for ordinary Kenyans to participate in the stock market and own shares.
“Do not gamble away your future. Instead of betting your hard-earned money, learn to invest wisely and build lasting wealth. A betting slip can be worthless in 90 minutes. A sound investment can build wealth for years,” Ruto said.
Ruto Urges Youth to Invest Instead of Betting
Meanwhile, Ruto said nearly one million Kenyans had signed up to Ziidi Trader, which he said now accounts for more than half of all orders at the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Through the platform, he explained, Kenyans can buy shares using their phones, making stock market investment more accessible to people who previously struggled to participate.
Recalling his visits to the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the President said he challenged officials to make share ownership accessible to Kenyans regardless of their income or connections.
“Nikawaambia nataka Mkenya akiwa mahali popote, ako pale kwa duka yake ama kwa salon yake hapo, anaweza kununua shares ya Safaricom, ama anaweza kununua shares ya Dangote, ama anaweza kununua shares ya Pipeline, ama anaweza kununua shares ya Kenya Airways pale kwa simu yake,” he said.
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Small Investments Can Build Wealth
Against this backdrop, Ruto said Kenyans could start investing with whatever amount they could afford instead of putting their money into betting.
“Ile pesa kidogo unaona uko nayo hapo, nunua shares badala ya kufanya gambling. Mnanielewa? Unajua ukiweka gamble, unaweza pata ama ukose,” he said.
At the same time, he said the value of the Nairobi Securities Exchange had increased from about Ksh 2 trillion in 2022 to Ksh 4.1 trillion, which he cited as an opportunity for Kenyans seeking to build wealth through investments.
“Now we are at 4.1 trillion Kenya shillings. Sikizeni, what does that mean? Kama ulikuwa na shares ya shillingi 1,000 four years ago, shares yako sasa ni shillingi 2,000. You have doubled your money in four years,” Ruto said.
Haba Haba Savings Plan
Beyond investing, the President encouraged young people to develop a saving culture and set aside part of their earnings for future needs.
For workers with irregular incomes, he pointed to the Haba Haba savings scheme as one avenue for preparing financially for retirement and unexpected financial challenges.
“Chukua sehemu kidogo ya hiyo malipo umepata, weka kidogo kwa Haba Haba, itakusaidia hapo mbele wakati tunasonga. Kwa sababu you will not be young every day; there will be a time utakuwa mzee, you need that money for that time,” he said.
In addition, he said saving was particularly important for Kenyans who earn from casual work, businesses or other activities where income is not guaranteed every month.
The President also said the Hustler Fund offers a savings product through which Kenyans can set aside money while the government invests it on their behalf.
“Already we have close to 800,000 Kenyans saving; they have saved close to 4.2 billion shillings. And the Government of Kenya is investing that money for them,” he said.
Ultimately, Ruto said combining saving with investment could allow Kenyans to build assets gradually rather than depending entirely on active income.
“We want a generation of Kenyans who are not only earners and consumers, but investors and owners of our economy,” he said.
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Ruto presides over the graduation of 3,750 students from the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) at State House, Nairobi on October 8, 2026. PHOTO/PCS