Msionee warembo, hata wanaume wanaomba fare – Ruto

President William Ruto on Thursday stirred laughter during the launch of NYOTA programme in Machakos, after making light-hearted remarks about fare requests and changing social dynamics among young people.

Speaking during the engagement with youth in the Ukambani region, the President dismissed the stereotype that only women ask for fare, saying the behaviour cuts across genders.

“Ati warembo peke yao ndio wa kuuliza fare? Mnawaonea sana,” Ruto joked, drawing cheers from the crowd.

“Hata hawa wanaume sio ati ni wazuri sana.”

Ruto went on to say both men and women today are increasingly open about seeking financial support, especially in casual interactions.

“You will see Irene sending you a message saying ‘babe’,” he said.

“Siku hizi kuna wale wa kudumu ati ‘bazenga’ kumbe ni pesa wanatafuta.”

The President used the moment to encourage young people to embrace honesty and responsibility in relationships and finances, urging them not to rely on manipulation or deceit.

He said the government is working to expand economic opportunities that will help young people earn a stable income instead of depending on handouts.

The light remarks come after Principal Secretary for Cooperatives Susan Mang’eni cautioned young women against financially exploiting the men under the NYOTA Fund programme, particularly through frequent requests for money and transport fare.

Speaking earlier in the week 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 said 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 anakuita 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.

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.