The Government has commenced the second phase of disbursement of business start-up capital under the NYOTA Project, marking another deliberate intervention by the administration of President William Ruto to empower youth entrepreneurship across the country. The rollout targets close to 50,000 youth beneficiaries in 27 counties between January 8 and January 16, 2026, reinforcing the government’s broader agenda of tackling youth unemployment through enterprise-driven solutions.
This second phase follows the successful completion of nationwide classroom training under the project’s Business Support Component. The programme is designed to empower over 100,000 vulnerable youth across all 1,450 wards countrywide, with a minimum of 70 beneficiaries per ward. The training equips participants with practical business skills, laying a strong foundation for sustainable enterprise creation before access to capital.
Speaking on the progress of the initiative, Principal Secretary for MSME Development Susan Mang’eni said the programme was on course and already delivering measurable impact. She noted that the first disbursement, undertaken on November 7, 2025, covered the Western Cluster counties of Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia and Bungoma, where 12,155 beneficiaries received Sh25,000 each. Of this amount, Sh3,000 was directed to savings, bringing the total disbursement to Sh303.9 million.
Under the ongoing second phase, each beneficiary will receive Sh22,000 deposited into their NYOTA Pochi la Biashara wallet, while an additional Sh3,000 will be remitted to their Haba na Haba account under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Mang’eni explained that the disbursement targets beneficiaries who successfully completed the mandatory three-day business skills training, underscoring the programme’s emphasis on accountability and preparedness.
The counties covered in this phase span large parts of Rift Valley, Central, Eastern and Nairobi regions, including Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Meru, Machakos, Nairobi and Kiambu, among others. The wide geographic spread reflects the Ruto administration’s commitment to inclusive development and equitable access to economic opportunities for youth, regardless of location.
Disbursement and mentorship events during this phase will be presided over by President William Ruto in key towns including Eldoret, Nakuru, Nanyuki, Nyeri, Meru, Machakos and Nairobi. The President’s direct involvement underscores the high-level political commitment behind the NYOTA Project and its positioning as a flagship pillar of the government’s youth empowerment and bottom-up economic transformation agenda.
Beyond financing, beneficiaries will undergo a two-month mentorship programme delivered by business development experts and local entrepreneurs to support market entry and enterprise growth. Participants will also receive a second phase of business development support training to prepare them for a future tranche of funding. Mang’eni announced that the schedule for Phase Three disbursement covering 16 counties, including Kilifi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Garissa and Mandera, will be communicated in due course, as the NYOTA Project continues to anchor the government’s long-term strategy on youth employment and enterprise sustainability.
