President William Ruto on Thursday launched the disbursement of Ksh.168 million start-up capital to 6,720 young entrepreneurs drawn from Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties, as the government accelerates efforts to grow youth-led businesses.
The funds were released under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business start-up capital programme during a ceremony held at Kinoru Stadium in Meru Town.
Each beneficiary will receive Ksh.50,000 in total, disbursed in two phases of Ksh.25,000 each.
In the first phase, Ksh.22,000 is deposited into the beneficiary’s Pochi la Biashara account to support business start-up or expansion, while Ksh.3,000 is placed in a Haba na Haba savings account under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Addressing the gathering, President Ruto said the NYOTA programme will benefit 121,800 youths nationwide, with the first phase of the national rollout expected to be completed by February 3, 2026.
“Kenya has a practical and demonstrable plan to grow our nation into a first-world economy,” the President said, noting that the programme complements other government interventions such as the Affordable Housing Programme, digital economy initiatives and the Kazi Majuu labour mobility scheme.
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki said the government is now shifting its focus to household-level economic empowerment after spending the past three years stabilising the macroeconomic environment.
Kindiki underscored that NYOTA is designed as a multi-pronged intervention to expand opportunities for young people across the country.
“When we talk about youth employment, we mostly focus on graduates and certificate holders, forgetting many talented young people who did not have the chance to complete formal education. Many of these young people possess real talent that can sustain their lives and help build the nation,” said the DP.
“In today’s economy, starting a business requires significant capital. That is why these are grants, not loans. These 50,000 Kenya shillings is startup capital provided free and is not to be repaid.”
Prof. Kindiki added: “About 90,000 young people will be assisted to develop their skills, receive recognition for their learning, obtain certificates, and gain access to essential tools. Others will be supported through access to government procurement opportunities.”
Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, on his part, said beneficiaries will also access existing government financing and support frameworks, including the Hustler Fund, Uwezo Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) and the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), to help sustain and scale their enterprises.
Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports CS Salim Mvurya said the programme reflects the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by deliberately targeting young people who would otherwise be excluded from economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSMEs Susan Mang’eni said the capital disbursement will be followed by structured mentorship and capacity-building to ensure beneficiaries build viable and sustainable businesses.
“We have loaded the Pochi la Biashara with business digital tools so that you can do a daily stock taking, which enables you to keep track and records to know the profit and losses of your business. We will also conduct mentorship to make sure your business succeeds,” she said.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, at the same time, described the NYOTA initiative as a boost to the micro-economy, noting that the sector accounts for more than 70 per cent of jobs for youth and women and remains central to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
