The government has disbursed start-up capital to trained youth entrepreneurs from Siaya, Homa Bay and Kisumu counties under the NYOTA Project, in a move aimed at strengthening youth-led enterprise and job creation.
The funds were issued on Monday during an event held at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu County, presided over by President William Ruto and attended by Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya.
The programme brought together beneficiaries who had undergone business training under the NYOTA framework.
Speaking during the event, Oparanya said the disbursement marked a key milestone in the government’s broader plan to place young people at the centre of Kenya’s economic transformation.
He noted that limited access to capital has for years constrained youth participation in business and employment creation.
The CS said the NYOTA Project seeks to address this gap by providing targeted start-up funding to viable youth enterprises, while also integrating mentorship and business development support.
He cautioned beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly, stressing that the support comes with accountability.
“This intervention carries both opportunity and responsibility,” Oparanya said, urging the youth to deploy the capital prudently to build sustainable businesses.
The NYOTA Project is aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which focuses on inclusive growth through empowering individuals and communities at the grassroots level.
Under the programme, beneficiaries receive not only financing but also structured mentorship and skills training designed to improve enterprise survival and long-term growth.
The initiative targets youth-owned micro and small enterprises across various sectors, with the aim of nurturing innovation and expanding employment opportunities at the local level.
The government maintains that sustained investment in skills development, mentorship and access to finance will play a critical role in unlocking youth potential and driving shared prosperity, particularly in regions facing high unemployment and limited economic opportunities.