President William Ruto has announced that the government will begin disbursing Ksh50,000 business grants to youth entrepreneurs under the NYOTA Programme starting November 4, 2025.
Speaking during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County on Monday, Ruto revealed that the initiative, supported by the World Bank, has set aside Ksh20 billion to empower young people through business start-ups, technical training, and innovation support.
The programme, he said, aims to reach 800,000 youth across Kenya through different empowerment categories. “We have Ksh20 billion from the World Bank to give to our youth. We will be targeting 800,000 youths who will receive funding under different categories of the NYOTA project,” stated Ruto.
To ensure fairness and transparency, the President announced that a nationwide verification exercise will begin on Friday, October 24, across all 290 constituencies. This process will identify eligible beneficiaries, particularly those under the business start-up category.
The verification was initially set for October 17 but was postponed following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on October 15.
Under the NYOTA Programme, Ruto noted that 90,000 young people will undergo technical and vocational training, while others with informal skills will be recognized through prior learning certification. Those interested in entrepreneurship will be eligible for the Ksh50,000 grant to start or expand small-scale businesses.
The government targets to support at least 100,000 youth entrepreneurs in this phase, marking a key step in its commitment to tackle unemployment and promote self-employment.
Ruto urged beneficiaries to invest the funds responsibly, stating that the NYOTA initiative is designed to build sustainable livelihoods and boost Kenya’s overall economic growth.
