The NYOTA Project has begun a nationwide rollout of business training and start-up capital support for youth entrepreneurs across Kenya. The official launch took place on November 7, 2025, at the Mumias Sports Complex in Kakamega County. This marked the start of disbursements for beneficiaries in the Western cluster, covering Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia counties.
A total of 12,155 beneficiaries received business start-up funds amounting to Kshs. 303,875,000. Each participant accessed Kshs. 22,000 through their NYOTA Pochi la Biashara accounts. Of this amount, Kshs. 3,000 was set aside as mandatory savings, with 30% available for short-term access and 70% reserved as long-term savings for the duration of the project. The savings structure aims to encourage financial discipline, promote sustainability, and provide a safety net for the youth-led businesses.
The Western cluster beneficiaries will now proceed to a two-month handholding mentorship session by Business Development experts. Thereafter they will undergo a second BDS Classroom training for 3 days aimed at linking them to the business ecosystem. At the
completion of training, they will receive their last tranche of startcapital and then be subjected to the final lap of mentorship for a period of 2 months.
The savings are aimed at promoting a culture of savings among the beneficiaries as a fall back in case of shocks that might disrupt their businesses, as part of de-risking mechanism.
The saving component is also designed to securitize the businesses to enable access to enhanced financing in the mainstream financial institutions.
The project is targeting to empower over 100,000 vulnerable youth across all 1,450 wards in Kenya, at least 70 beneficiaries per ward. The project also targets to benefit 5,000 refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps and additional 5,000 for the host communities.
The intake process for the refugees beneficiaries in Kakuma and Dadaab camps is being finalized and we shall rollout the training as soon as the process is finalized.
The roll-out plan for the rest of the country
Tomorrow, 14th November 2025 we shall rollout training simultaneously in the following 25 counties: Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, Transzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Nandi, Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, kisii, Nyamira, Kericho and Bomet. This constitutes 151 constituencies and 754 wards.
The training will be for four days and beneficiaries are required to attend at least 3 days in order to qualify for the start-up capital. The selected beneficiaries have already received text messages notifying them of their successful selection, and inviting them to attend the training in specified venues. A total of 63,231 youth beneficiaries are expected to attend the training.
The training will be hosted in the constituencies; beneficiaries will be trained in their respective constituencies which they indicated during application process.
We have mapped out a total of 222 training centres with some constituencies depending on their vastness, having more than one training centres.
In constituencies with more than one training centres, the beneficiaries are urged to choose the nearest training centre. However, it must be within their respective constituency.
The disbursement of the start-up capital will follow immediately after the completion of the classroom training.
The training in the remaining 18 counties (Nairobi, Kiambu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tanariver, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Marsabit Samburu, Wajir, Mandera and Garissa) will commence towards the end of next week.
END
SUSAN MANG’ENI, C.B.S.
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR MSMEs DEVELOPMENT
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