The government has accelerated the rollout of the NYOTA Project, a flagship youth empowerment initiative targeting more than 100,000 vulnerable young people across all 1,450 wards in the country.
The expansion follows the project’s official launch on November 7, 2025, at the Mumias Sports Complex in Kakamega County, where thousands of beneficiaries received their first tranche of business start-up support.
According to Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development Susan Mang’eni, a total of 12,155 beneficiaries from the Western Kenya cluster, covering Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia counties, received KSh 303,875,000 in start-up funds. Each beneficiary accessed KSh22,000 through their NYOTA Pochi la Biashara wallet, with KSh3,000 automatically set aside as mandatory savings.
Mang’eni said the savings model is designed to instill financial discipline while creating a fallback buffer for the youth in the event of business shocks.
Following the disbursement, beneficiaries in the Western cluster have now begun a two-month mentorship programme led by Business Development Service (BDS) experts. This will be followed by a three-day BDS classroom training, after which participants will receive their final tranche of start-up capital before proceeding to a final two-month mentorship phase.
The PS noted that the savings will also help beneficiaries access additional financing from mainstream financial institutions by acting as a form of business securitization.
Training in 25 counties
Beginning November 14, 2025, the NYOTA Project will roll out training in 25 counties, including Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia, Meru, Embu, Nakuru, Narok, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho and Bomet. This phase covers 151 constituencies and 754 wards.
A total of 63,231 selected beneficiaries have already been notified via text message and invited to attend the four-day training sessions. Attendance of at least three days is mandatory to qualify for start-up capital disbursement.
The government has mapped out 222 training centres across the 25 counties. Constituencies with wider geographical spread will host multiple centres, and participants have been advised to attend the nearest one within their constituency.
Once the training is completed, the disbursement of start-up capital will begin immediately.
Support for Refugee Communities
The NYOTA Project also targets 5,000 refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab, along with 5,000 youth from surrounding host communities. The intake process for refugees is nearing completion, and training will commence once the selection is finalized.
Final Rollout Phase
Training in the remaining 18 counties—including Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Marsabit, Samburu, Wajir, Garissa and others—is scheduled to begin towards the end of next week, completing the national rollout.
The NYOTA Project is one of the largest youth enterprise initiatives implemented by the State Department for MSMEs Development, offering a comprehensive package of capital, mentorship, savings support, and market linkages aimed at equipping young Kenyans with the tools needed to build sustainable livelihoods.
As the nationwide rollout continues, tens of thousands of young people are set to begin their journey into entrepreneurship—marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to empower its youth and stimulate grassroots economic growth.
Read: Over 800,000 Youth Set for Verification as Govt Rolls Out Ksh50,000 NYOTA Grant Programme
>>> All You Need to Know About the NYOTA Program And How to Benefit
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