President William Ruto has directed Principal Secretaries (PSs) to convene a meeting with governors, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to fast-track the rollout of the NYOTA youth empowerment programme.
The directive requires PSs to meet the leaders by Monday, October 6, 2025, to ensure the programme’s seamless implementation across all 1,450 wards in Kenya. Additionally, PSs will engage chiefs and other local administrators to sensitize communities about the initiative.
NYOTA, a five-year transformative agenda funded by the World Bank, seeks to empower young people by tackling unemployment, income insecurity, and limited savings. Under the programme, 70 youths from each ward will be awarded Ksh50,000 in grants to launch small businesses, translating to 100,000 beneficiaries nationwide.
According to Ruto, the approach will be inclusive and transparent, involving both national and county leaders.
“By involving leaders from the Executive, Legislature, and county governments, the process will be transparent and inclusive, ensuring that every young person has a fair chance to benefit,” he said.
The Head of State emphasized that the government is adopting a whole-of-government approach to guarantee NYOTA’s smooth rollout, while also driving innovation and entrepreneurship among youths.
The Ksh5 billion programme comes at a time of high demand, with over 1.4 million applications already submitted via the *254# USSD platform.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Trade Committee in August, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya revealed that 180,000 applicants had been shortlisted through a fair randomization process. The candidates are currently undergoing an online aptitude test before final selection.
Oparanya further noted that 46% of shortlisted applicants are women, while 26,000 are persons with disabilities, highlighting the government’s efforts to promote inclusivity. Successful applicants will receive the Ksh50,000 in two instalments of Ksh25,000 each, alongside Business Development Services (BDS) training and mentorship.
With NYOTA’s launch, the government aims to unlock opportunities for Kenyan youth while boosting enterprise, innovation, and grassroots economic growth.
