World Bank Debunks Fake Endorsement Amid Gachagua’s NYOTA Critique
The World Bank has officially dismissed a viral press statement claiming it addressed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s comments on Kenya’s NYOTA youth program, labeling it as fake and urging reliance on official channels.
“This document is fake and should be disregarded. The World Bank has not issued any official communication or statement in relation to this matter,” read the statement by NYOTA.
This comes after Gachagua highlighted the program’s international scope, warning against its use in political campaigns.
Gachagua’s Remarks on NYOTA
Rigathi Gachagua recently stated that the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) is a World Bank-funded initiative active in countries like Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Benin, and Togo.
He criticized its rollout in Kenya as resembling pre-election vote bribery, with leaders touring regions to disburse funds amid concerns over corruption and selective targeting.
Gachagua emphasized that presidents in other nations have not politicized similar programs, positioning his Democratic Congress Party (DCP) as listener to public concerns in northern Kenya and beyond.
Viral Statement and World Bank Response
A purported February 10 statement circulated online, suggesting the World Bank reaffirmed partnership with President Ruto’s administration in response to Gachagua and defended NYOTA against irregularity claims.
The World Bank quickly clarified that no such document exists, calling it misleading and fake, following the Kenyan government’s own dismissal of graft allegations on February 9.
“The World Bank Kenya wishes to clarify that the News release currently circulating regarding an alleged response to concerns about the NYOTA Kenya program is fake. No statement of that nature has been issued by the World Bank Kenya,” read the statement by World Bank Kenya.
This has fact-checked the matter, questioning the statement’s authenticity in light of Gachagua’s speech, aligning with broader media scrutiny on the program’s transparency.
NYOTA, a five-year Government of Kenya project backed by the World Bank with $200 million (Sh25.8 billion), targets unemployed youth aged 18-35 (or up to 35 for disabled youth) who haven’t exceeded Form 4 education.
It provides Sh50,000 grants Sh22,000 for business startups and Sh3,000 for savings via digitized processes in all 1,450 wards, focusing on apprenticeships in digital, creative, green, and other economies.
The World Bank has previously praised NYOTA as innovative for tackling youth unemployment, despite opposition backlash from figures like Kalonzo Musyoka and David Maraga.
This episode underscores tensions in Kenyan politics, with NYOTA facing accusations of being a re-election tool ahead of 2027, amid ongoing youth unemployment challenges.
While the program aims to foster entrepreneurship and savings through initiatives like Haba Haba, public trust hinges on transparency, especially with international funding involved.
The fake statement’s spread highlights misinformation risks on social media where this play a key role in verification. As youth empowerment remains critical, official clarifications like this reinforce accountability in public programs.