President William Ruto on Thursday, January 9, launched the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business support programme, disbursing Sh250 million to 9,500 young entrepreneurs across six North Rift counties.
Speaking during the launch at the Eldoret Sports Club, the President said the programme is a key pillar of the government’s strategy to empower young people economically and stimulate grassroots enterprise growth.
Beneficiaries drawn from Turkana, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties received the funds directly through their mobile phones.
Under the NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital component, each beneficiary received an initial Sh22,000 out of the total Sh50,000 allocation, deposited into their NYOTA mobile wallets.
An additional Sh3,000 was remitted to their savings accounts at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), underscoring the programme’s emphasis on savings and financial discipline.
The President noted that NYOTA is a flagship youth empowerment initiative jointly funded by the government and the World Bank, with an overall budget of Sh5 billion.
The programme targets 100,000 young people countrywide, with at least 70 beneficiaries selected from each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards.
“This programme involves a high level of accountability and transparency because it is about an individual’s effort to initiate a project that can transform their life,” President Ruto said, urging beneficiaries to use the funds strictly for the intended business purposes.
Beyond start-up capital, the President explained that NYOTA has three additional components aimed at equipping youth with skills and market access.
These include on-the-job training for 90,000 young people, recognition of prior learning that will certify 20,000 youths, and training for 600,000 young people on how to access government procurement opportunities.
Under the on-the-job training component, beneficiaries will be attached to master craftsmen and women for skills transfer and will receive a Sh6,000 monthly stipend for six months.
The government will also pay the master craftsmen and cover the cost of certification for the trainees.
President Ruto called on young people to take advantage of the government’s broader employment and empowerment programmes, including affordable housing, Kazi Majuu and digital jobs initiatives.
He said these interventions have already created significant opportunities, with 600,000 youths working in affordable housing projects, 500,000 securing jobs abroad since 2023, and another 200,000 engaged in digital work.
He cautioned NYOTA beneficiaries against misusing the funds, warning that prudent use would determine eligibility for subsequent phases of support.
“Use the money we are giving you properly so that you can qualify for the other phase and so that other youths can also benefit,” he said.
The President also reassured parents on education funding, saying the government had released Sh44 billion before schools opened for the current term, representing 50 per cent of the annual capitation.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to paying Sh22,000 per high school student annually.
In his remarks, President Ruto warned against tribal politics and the misuse of young people for divisive agendas, urging leaders to present clear plans and track records instead.
