EMMANUEL WEKESA
The Government of Kenya, in partnership with the World Bank, has announced that the second tranche of start-up capital under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project will be disbursed by June 30, 2026. This decision comes as part of efforts to resolve previous budgetary constraints that had delayed the project’s rollout.
Major Shift in Disbursement Strategy
According to Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSMEs Development, Susan Mang’eni, all beneficiaries will now receive the funds simultaneously, marking a significant departure from the earlier phased approach. This change aims to expedite support for youth entrepreneurs across the country.
The NYOTA project is a comprehensive five-year initiative designed to empower vulnerable and marginalized young people through various support mechanisms including skills training, recognition of prior learning, apprenticeships, mentorship, business training, savings promotion, and market access. Notably, the program extends its support to youth in refugee camps such as Kakuma and Dadaab, as well as their host communities.
Implemented collectively by multiple government agencies like NITA, MSEA, NEA, and NSSF, the project officially commenced in March 2025 with its Business Support Component. Since then, nearly 2 million applicants have expressed interest, with over 122,000 youth benefitting from targeted interventions such as classroom training, mentorship, and initial grants of Ksh.25,000.
Data indicates that more than 99% of the beneficiaries have established businesses following the program's support activities. This high success rate underscores the strong entrepreneurial readiness of Kenyan youth, supported by the deployment of over 3,600 trainers and 5,500 mentors nationwide. The program's ongoing efforts are fundamental in fostering youth employment and economic growth throughout Kenya.
