"Nyinyi Sio Size Yangu Bwana" Ruto Defends NYOTA Programme as Government Releases Sh3 Billion to Over 122,000 Youth Entrepreneurs
Politics Updated: 10 July 2026 22:31 EAT
Photo courtesy : President William Samoei Ruto interacting with the youths during the disbursement of the second tranche of the NYOTA fund
President William Ruto has defended the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme against criticism, saying small grants can transform lives after the government disbursed more than Sh3 billion to over 122,000 young entrepreneurs across the country.
Speaking during the launch of the latest phase of the programme on Friday, the President dismissed claims that the grants are too small to make a meaningful impact. He said many successful businesses begin with modest capital and urged young people to invest the funds prudently to grow sustainable enterprises.
The government released Sh3.06 billion under the second phase of the NYOTA Business Start-up Programme, benefiting 122,203 youth entrepreneurs nationwide. Of these, 88,934 beneficiaries received a second grant of Sh25,000 after successfully investing their initial allocation, bringing their total support to Sh50,000 each. Another 33,269 young people received their first Sh25,000 grant.
President Ruto said the programme is designed to create opportunities for young people to build businesses and become economically independent rather than depend on government assistance. He maintained that every successful enterprise starts small and grows through commitment and hard work.
To strengthen the initiative, the President announced plans to work with county governments to waive business permit fees for NYOTA-supported enterprises for two years. The proposal will be implemented through consultations under the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council.
He also announced the establishment of a national NYOTA identification system to enable beneficiaries to access government services, incentives and future financing more efficiently. The government further plans to link successful entrepreneurs to additional credit through public financial institutions to help them expand their businesses.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the programme targets young Kenyans aged between 18 and 29 years who face difficulties accessing formal employment or opportunities for higher education. He said the initiative seeks to equip them with capital and business skills to start income-generating ventures.
Kindiki said the programme has been structured to promote inclusion, with 50 per cent of beneficiaries being women, 50 per cent men, while five per cent of the opportunities are reserved for persons with disabilities.
The latest disbursement reached beneficiaries across all counties, including about 4,100 youth in Nakuru County, 2,900 in Baringo County, and 1,900 in Nyandarua County, among other regions.
The NYOTA programme is jointly funded by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank and extends beyond start-up grants. It includes entrepreneurship training, industrial attachments for 90,000 young people, Recognition of Prior Learning certification for skilled workers without formal qualifications, and support for youth seeking access to government procurement opportunities.
The latest release follows an earlier disbursement of approximately Sh2.5 billion to more than 101,000 young entrepreneurs under the programme, as the government scales up efforts to tackle youth unemployment and support enterprise development across the country.
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FELIX MAKONA
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