Kenya’s flagship youth empowerment initiative, the NYOTA programme, is set for a major nationwide expansion that will benefit up to two million young people, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced. The scale-up underscores the government’s renewed push to unlock opportunities for youth through enterprise support, skills development, and access to employment across the country.
Speaking after a high-level meeting at his Official Residence in Karen, DP Kindiki said the programme is undergoing a comprehensive review to strengthen its impact and significantly widen its reach. The meeting brought together Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and heads of implementing agencies to assess progress and plan the next phase of rollout.
Currently, the NYOTA programme has reached about 820,000 young people, providing them with pathways into business, skills training, and the labour market. According to the Deputy President, the government is now mobilising additional resources to more than double this number, with a long-term target of reaching at least two million youth nationwide.
A key pillar of the programme is the Business Grant component, which has already supported more than 121,000 young entrepreneurs. Each beneficiary has received Sh50,000 to start or expand their businesses, offering critical seed capital to youth-led enterprises in both urban and rural areas.
DP Kindiki noted that between Sh5 billion and Sh6 billion has been invested in this component, significantly strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as new startups. He said the initiative is helping young people transition from job seekers to job creators, contributing to local economic growth and livelihoods.
Beyond business grants, the NYOTA programme also focuses on On-the-Job Training, Skills Development, Recognition of Prior Learning, and Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO). These pillars are being refined to better align with government priorities and ensure young people gain practical, market-relevant skills.
“We are going to have more young people on board the business support programme, on-the-job experience and recognition of prior learning,” DP Kindiki said, emphasising that the reforms are designed to maximise impact while improving efficiency.
He further explained that savings realised from removing unnecessary budget items and restructuring programme components will be redirected to reach more beneficiaries. Going forward, the government will continue engaging development partners to support the expansion of NYOTA and align it with Kenya’s broader development and job creation agenda, reinforcing its commitment to empowering the youth as a key driver of national growth.
