Ruto launches KSh 173 million NYOTA grants for youth entrepreneurs in Mt Kenya
By Chemtai Kirui
Nairobi, Jan. 12 — President William Ruto on Monday launched the disbursement of KSh 173.2 million in start-up capital to thousands of small traders and young entrepreneurs across four Mount Kenya counties under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, a flagship youth empowerment program.
The launch took place at the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Kabiru-ini Grounds in Nyeri Town, with 6,982 young beneficiaries drawn from Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga and Murang’a counties.
The announcement comes days after President Ruto rolled out a similar NYOTA disbursement in Uasin Gishu County, as part of the program’s phased national expansion.
The government says the initiative aims to tackle youth unemployment, expand financial inclusion and stimulate grassroots enterprise by providing accessible capital to young Kenyans who previously lacked access to formal credit.
In the first phase of the Mount Kenya rollout, 6,982 applicants have been approved to receive KSh 25,000 each to support business establishment or expansion. Of this amount, KSh 22,000 is deposited into a digital business wallet — known as Pochi La Biashara — for enterprise use, while KSh 3,000 is credited to the beneficiaries’ National Social Security Fund (NSSF) savings account to promote savings and future financial security.
The NYOTA Project is co-funded by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank and forms a key pillar of the administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which prioritizes youth empowerment through entrepreneurship support, skills development and structured savings.
As in other counties, successful beneficiaries will also undergo a three-day business skills training program, followed by a two-month mentorship phase delivered by business development experts and local entrepreneurs. Officials say the training component is intended to help recipients translate the cash injection into sustainable enterprises.
The phased nature of the NYOTA grants mirrors earlier disbursements in other regions. In recent weeks, the program delivered similar start-up capital to youth in counties including Nakuru, Baringo, Narok, Bomet and Kericho, where beneficiaries received the first tranche of their business support package.
Demand for the program has been high across the region. In Kirinyaga County alone, more than 8,000 youth applied during the physical verification exercise, underscoring the scale of interest in the initiative. Officials say only 70 beneficiaries are selected per ward, a model designed to ensure broad geographic inclusion.
A youth coordinator in Kirinyaga said the verification process was generally smooth, although some applicants reported confusion over assigned centers due to incorrect contact details. County officials said measures were being taken to address such challenges and minimize the exclusion of eligible applicants.
When fully implemented, the NYOTA Project is expected to reach vulnerable and underemployed youth across all 1,450 wards nationwide, with each ward supporting a minimum of 70 beneficiaries. The approach links capital support with skills training, savings promotion and enterprise development, with the aim of positioning young people as business creators rather than job seekers.
The program complements other youth-focused government initiatives, including on-the-job experience placements, recognition of prior learning certification and digital skills training intended to help young entrepreneurs access government procurement opportunities.
Government officials and county leaders attending the Mount Kenya rollout said the program has the potential to boost local economies and household incomes by strengthening small-scale business activity.
Further NYOTA disbursements are expected in other regions in the coming months as the nationwide rollout continues.
