President William Ruto on Monday presided over the disbursement of Sh258.4 million to support young entrepreneurs under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business support programme.
The funds will benefit 10,337 young businesspeople from Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kajiado counties, each receiving an initial start-up capital of Sh25,000 to establish or expand their enterprises.
The disbursement ceremony was held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi.
Of the amount allocated to each beneficiary, Sh22,000 will be credited directly to their Pochi la Biashara accounts, while the remaining Sh3,000 will be deposited into Haba na Haba Savings Accounts managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Speaking during the launch, President Ruto said financial support alone was not sufficient to guarantee youth success, stressing the importance of continuous training, mentorship, and close monitoring of business growth.
“It is not enough to provide young people with capital. We must walk with them step by step, offering training and mentorship as we assess the growth and success of their businesses,” the President said.
He added that the government’s broader goal is to empower young people to work, do business, and exploit opportunities across various sectors, including digital jobs, housing, ICT, and labour.
“Young people of Kenya, you now have opportunities to work within the digital ecosystem without having to know anyone. You can assign yourself work and earn through the internet,” Ruto said.
“We are not just giving you money; we are also going to train you, mentor you, and support you.”
The NYOTA programme is a five-year partnership between the Government of Kenya and the World Bank and is a flagship youth empowerment initiative valued at Sh5 billion.
Beneficiaries are required to utilise the grants strictly in line with approved business plans developed during training, with continuous technical support provided.
Under the second phase of the programme, beneficiaries will receive an additional Sh25,000, bringing the total funding per entrepreneur to Sh50,000.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki praised the initiative, describing it as inclusive and impactful for young people venturing into entrepreneurship.
“NYOTA promotes inclusivity by supporting youth regardless of their level of education or skills,” Kindiki said.
“Today, 70 young people from every ward in Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kajiado will leave with financial support. This is just one of several youth empowerment programmes under this administration.”
The government announced that the disbursement schedule for the third phase of the NYOTA programme—covering 16 counties including Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River, Mombasa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Nyamira, Kisii, Marsabit, Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir—will be communicated in due course.
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