By News Desk
President William Ruto has launched the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme’s business support component, overseeing the disbursement of more than KSh3 billion to over 122,000 young entrepreneurs across Kenya.
Under the programme, each beneficiary has received KSh25,000 in the second tranche, bringing the total support per entrepreneur to KSh50,000. The funding is aimed at helping young people start new businesses or expand existing enterprises, positioning NYOTA as one of Kenya’s largest investments in youth entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Speaking during the launch, President Ruto said the programme is already transforming livelihoods, citing numerous success stories from beneficiaries across the country whose businesses have grown through the initial funding.
He noted that the achievements of thousands of young entrepreneurs demonstrate that even modest financial support can unlock significant economic opportunities, dismissing critics who argued that grants of KSh25,000 or KSh50,000 would have little impact.
To strengthen the programme, the President directed the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development to establish a national NYOTA identification mechanism that will enable beneficiaries to access government services, incentives and business support more efficiently.
President Ruto also 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 for businesses established under the programme.
In addition, the President called on the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) and county governments to consider introducing a two-year business permit waiver for NYOTA beneficiaries to ease the cost of doing business and support enterprise growth.
The NYOTA Programme forms part of the Government’s broader agenda to create employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship, and empower young Kenyans to become drivers of economic growth and national development.
