The Government has disbursed more than Sh3 billion to over 122,000 young entrepreneurs under the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme, with President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki hailing the initiative as a transformative investment aimed at tackling youth unemployment and promoting grassroots enterprise.
Speaking during the nationwide second-tranche disbursement on Friday, President Ruto announced that 88,934 beneficiaries had received their second allocation of Sh25,000, bringing the total support for each of them to Sh50,000. Another 33,269 young people received their first grants, raising the total number of beneficiaries in the latest phase to more than 122,000 drawn from all the country’s 47 counties.
The Head of State said the programme had already demonstrated that relatively small amounts of capital could transform lives when placed in the hands of determined young entrepreneurs.
“When we launched the NYOTA Enterprise Programme, some questioned whether Sh25,000 could truly make a difference. Every great enterprise was once a small one. Every successful entrepreneur was once a beginner,” President Ruto said.
He noted that thousands of small businesses across the country had already expanded or been established through the programme, citing success stories from beneficiaries as evidence that the initiative was delivering tangible economic impact despite criticism from some quarters.
“These are clear testaments of what this programme can do, proving wrong those who dismissed Sh25,000 or Sh50,000 as too little to achieve anything,” he added.
The President described NYOTA as one of the largest government investments in youth entrepreneurship, saying the programme was designed to create opportunities rather than provide handouts.
To strengthen the initiative, President Ruto directed the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development to establish a national NYOTA identification mechanism that will enable beneficiaries to seamlessly access government services, incentives and future financial support.
He further instructed government financing institutions—including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund, Women Enterprise Fund and Kenya Industrial Estates—to develop a dedicated NYOTA Growth Product that will provide additional financing to businesses that demonstrate growth potential.
In another major incentive, the President urged the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) and county governments to implement a two-year waiver on business permit fees for all NYOTA-supported enterprises.
“Young businesses deserve the opportunity to establish themselves before bearing the full cost of compliance,” he said.
Speaking during a concurrent disbursement event in Nakuru Town, Deputy President Kindiki defended the programme against critics, saying it specifically targets young Kenyans aged between 18 and 29 years who did not proceed to university or college and often struggle to secure formal employment.
He explained that the programme guarantees equitable representation, with 50 per cent of beneficiaries being women, 50 per cent men, and five per cent reserved for persons with disabilities.
Kindiki said the Government had on Friday released Sh3 billion as the second tranche to 122,000 beneficiaries across Kenya, adding that every beneficiary who had now received both allocations had obtained Sh50,000 in business capital support.
“Business Development Support is one of the four components of the NYOTA project. Cumulatively, one million youths will benefit from this component as well as the On-the-Job Experience (OJE), Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO),” he said.
The Deputy President presided over the disbursement event covering Nakuru, Baringo and Nyandarua counties, where 8,958 beneficiaries received grants. Of these, about 4,100 beneficiaries were from Nakuru, including 3,000 receiving their second tranche and 1,100 first-time recipients. Approximately 2,900 youths benefited in Baringo, while 1,900 beneficiaries received support in Nyandarua.
He noted that disbursement events were held simultaneously in 18 locations across the country, bringing together beneficiaries from clusters of counties to receive their grants.
Kindiki said the Government was encouraged by testimonies from beneficiaries who had already used the initial grants to establish or expand businesses, creating employment opportunities and improving household incomes.
“Our young people were never waiting for handouts. They were waiting for an opportunity. And when opportunity meets determination, ambition becomes enterprise; enterprise creates jobs; jobs support families. Strong families build a strong nation,” he said.
Beyond business grants, Kindiki highlighted other components of the NYOTA programme, including industrial attachments for 90,000 youths, Recognition of Prior Learning certification for skilled workers without formal qualifications, and support for more than 6,000 young people seeking access to government procurement opportunities through AGPO.
He maintained that the initiative represented one of the fairest government programmes ever implemented because it ensures equitable distribution across every county, ward, gender and vulnerable group.
Responding to criticism that the grants were too small, the Deputy President challenged critics to offer alternative solutions.
“I have heard some people say that Sh25,000 is too little, but if you think this is little money, please come and help us provide more. For the time being, we are grateful, but in future we will expand this grant so that it can be larger than it is at the moment,” Kindiki said.
The NYOTA programme forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to reduce youth unemployment by supporting entrepreneurship, enhancing employability through workplace experience, recognising informal skills through certification, and expanding access to public procurement opportunities. Government officials expressed confidence that the initiative will continue to stimulate grassroots economic growth while empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs across Kenya.
