Only one per cent will not benefit from the second tranche of NYOTA disbursement after 99 per cent shown working businesses
About two million youths under the age bracket of 18 and 29 years old had applied for the business start-up capital but they didn’t qualify all of them necessitating government to continue with the programme
More than 122,000 young Kenyans have received business training and start-up grants under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project, marking a major milestone in the government’s push to tackle youth unemployment through entrepreneurship.
The programme, a partnership between the Government of Kenya and the World Bank, was launched in March 2025 and targets vulnerable and marginalized youth through skills development, mentorship, apprenticeship opportunities, business financing and market access support.
Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi on Tuesday, Principal Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Susan Mang’eni said the project had surpassed initial expectations after attracting nearly two million applications from young people across the country.
“The overwhelming response demonstrated the high entrepreneurial potential among Kenyan youth and necessitated a review of the project’s original design,” Mangeni said.
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Initially structured to be implemented in three phases, the business support component was converted into a single nationwide intake following consultations involving President William Ruto and World Bank officials. The adjustment was intended to accelerate access to opportunities for young applicants while creating room for a possible expansion of the programme in the 2026/27 financial year.
According to the State Department for MSME Development, beneficiaries were selected through an entrepreneurial aptitude assessment and subsequently enrolled in business development programmes that include classroom-based training, mentorship and financial literacy.
Each participant receives a start-up grant of Sh25,000, with Sh3,000 retained under a savings scheme designed to encourage financial discipline and business sustainability.
Mangeni said early monitoring results indicate that more than 99 per cent of beneficiaries who received the initial grant have already established income-generating enterprises, highlighting the effectiveness of the intervention in promoting youth-led entrepreneurship.
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The NYOTA project is being implemented through a multi-agency framework involving the State Department for MSME Development, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. Key implementing agencies include the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), the National Employment Authority (NEA) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Beyond entrepreneurship support, the programme also provides skills recognition, job placements, apprenticeships and access to government procurement opportunities. It further extends support to youth living in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps as well as surrounding host communities.
Government officials said the project’s progress demonstrates growing confidence among young people in enterprise development as a pathway to employment and economic empowerment.
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