Presidential Directive: Ruto's Sh154m NYOTA Fund boosts Kenyan entrepreneurs with waivers!

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku has called on beneficiaries of the government's National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project to invest their grants wisely. Speaking at Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka Nithi County during the issuance of NYOTA Project funds in its second phase, Ruku emphasized that prudent financial management is crucial for the youth to sustain and grow their businesses, achieving long-term economic independence and successful ventures. The second phase of the project targets 122,000 beneficiaries across the country, with Sh3 billion set for disbursement.

President William Ruto's administration has allocated Sh154 million to support youth entrepreneurship in Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Meru counties. Out of this allocation, youths from Meru County received Sh81 million, Embu County Sh41 million, and Tharaka Nithi Sh32 million. The NYOTA Project is a key government initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment by providing youthful entrepreneurs with startup capital to establish and expand their businesses. Under this phase, 88,934 entrepreneurs who successfully invested their initial Sh25,000 business support will receive a second tranche of Sh25,000, while another 33,269 beneficiaries will receive their first tranche. Marsabit County, for instance, will see 1,680 youth benefit from the current phase, in addition to more than 1,570 beneficiaries supported in the first phase.

During the rollout of the second phase at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, President Ruto directed the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), working with county governments, to implement a two-year business permit waiver for all beneficiaries. This waiver is intended to provide young entrepreneurs with time to establish and grow their businesses without the burden of licensing fees. The President further instructed the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development to establish a national NYOTA identification mechanism, enabling beneficiaries to seamlessly access government services, incentives, and opportunities aimed at supporting enterprise growth.

Additionally, President Ruto directed government financing institutions, including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, and Kenya Industrial Estates, to develop dedicated financial products to support NYOTA beneficiaries as their businesses expand. A portion of the additional Sh25,000 business support grant, specifically Sh3,000, will be committed to the NSSF Haba Haba Savings Scheme, fostering a culture of saving and building long-term financial resilience among young entrepreneurs. The government also announced that 90,000 young people will benefit from an On-the-Job training program, and 20,000 skilled youth without formal certification will be assessed and awarded certificates to enhance their access to employment and business opportunities.

The five-year World Bank-funded initiative, officially launched on November 7, 2025, targets 820,000 vulnerable youth through skills training, business grants starting at Sh50,000, and job placements. The first phase covered the Western cluster of Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, and Bungoma counties, with 12,155 youth receiving Sh25,000 each. The program targets youth aged 18 to 29 years, and up to 35 years for Persons with Disabilities, with implementation across all 1,450 wards in the country.

CS Ruku cautioned beneficiaries against diverting funds to non-business activities, stressing that the money must be treated as investment capital, not a 'handout'. He reiterated the government's commitment to financially empowering young people through targeted support and policies that foster entrepreneurship. President Ruto dismissed critics who described the funding as