The NYOTA Project was officially launched on 7th November 2025, at Mumias Sports Complex in Kakamega County, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s youth empowerment agenda.
The event also coincided with the rollout of business start-up capital for beneficiaries in the Western cluster, which includes Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia counties.
These beneficiaries had successfully completed the mandatory classroom business training and are now ready to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.
A total of 12,155 beneficiaries in the Western cluster received Kshs. 303,875,000, with each participant accessing Kshs. 22,000 through their NYOTA Pochi la Biashara.
Of this amount, Kshs. 3,000 is a mandatory savings deduction, designed to encourage a culture of saving.
Thirty percent of this savings can be accessed in the short term, while seventy percent remains tied to the project’s duration, ensuring both immediate support and long-term business security.
Following the initial capital disbursement, the Western cluster beneficiaries will participate in a two-month mentorship program led by Business Development experts.
This will be followed by a second three-day classroom training session aimed at linking the youth to Kenya’s broader business ecosystem.
Upon completion of this training, beneficiaries will receive the final tranche of start-up capital and enter the concluding phase of mentorship for another two months.
The savings component of the project serves as a risk mitigation mechanism. It is designed to cushion businesses against unforeseen shocks while also securitizing them, enabling access to enhanced financing opportunities through mainstream financial institutions.
This approach ensures that the businesses are not only launched successfully but have the resilience to grow sustainably.
NYOTA’s overarching goal is ambitious: to empower over 100,000 vulnerable youth across all 1,450 wards in Kenya, with at least seventy beneficiaries targeted per ward.
The project also extends its reach to refugees, targeting 5,000 beneficiaries in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, alongside an additional 5,000 youth from surrounding host communities.
The intake process for the refugee beneficiaries is currently being finalized, and training will commence as soon as the process is complete.
Building on the momentum in the Western cluster, the project expanded its training program nationwide starting 14th November 2025. On this day, training sessions were simultaneously rolled out across 25 counties, including Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Nandi, Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, and Bomet. This phase covers 151 constituencies and 754 wards, with 63,231 youth expected to attend.
The four-day training sessions are structured to ensure active participation, requiring beneficiaries to attend at least three days to qualify for their start-up capital. Participants have been notified via text messages confirming their selection and providing details of the venues where the training will take place.
To facilitate accessibility, training will be hosted in the constituencies chosen by beneficiaries during the application process, with a total of 222 training centers mapped across the 25 counties. In constituencies with multiple centers, beneficiaries are advised to select the one nearest to them, provided it remains within their constituency.
Disbursement of the start-up capital will follow immediately after the completion of the classroom training, ensuring a seamless transition from learning to business launch.
For the remaining 18 counties, including Nairobi, Kiambu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Marsabit, Samburu, Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa, the training sessions are scheduled to commence towards the end of next week.
This phased rollout strategy is intended to ensure that every beneficiary across the country has an equal opportunity to participate and benefit from the program.
The NYOTA Project represents a significant intervention in Kenya’s youth economic empowerment landscape. By combining business start-up capital, structured classroom training, mentorship, and a strong savings culture, the initiative seeks to equip vulnerable youth with the tools, knowledge, and resilience required to thrive in the business sector.
Through these efforts, the project aims not only to create successful entrepreneurs but also to foster sustainable livelihoods and contribute to broader economic growth in Kenya.
With the nationwide rollout underway, thousands of young Kenyans are poised to transform their ideas into viable businesses, supported by a structured framework that emphasizes both financial discipline and practical mentorship.
The NYOTA Project continues to be a bold step towards realizing the potential of Kenya’s youth as drivers of economic innovation and community development.
