Youth to receive Ksh.25K as Ruto launches Ksh.235M NYOTA project in Rift Valley

President William Ruto has launched the NYOTA Project Business Start-Up Capital disbursement for six counties in the North Rift region, which targets thousands of youth with capital support to begin and expand businesses.

The programme will see Ksh.235,575,000 disbursed to 9,423 youths from Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Trans-Nzoia, Turkana, and West Pokot counties.

Each beneficiary will receive Ksh.25,000, with Ksh.22,000 deposited into the Pochi La Biashara Wallet to support business operations, while Ksh.3,000 will be deposited into the Haba Na Haba savings account under NSSF to encourage a savings culture among young entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the launch held in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, President Ruto hailed the NYOTA Project as “a benchmark for transparency and inclusivity,” saying it gives “every young Kenyan an equal chance through a fully digitised process.”

He said the initiative is a flagship youth empowerment programme focusing on job creation and enterprise development, and complements other interventions, including opportunities under the affordable housing project, labour export, and the digital economy.

County Governors from the benefiting counties pledged support to NYOTA beneficiaries, committing to waive business licences and cess charges to reduce the cost of doing business, while also promising to provide additional enterprise development funds for further capital needs.

During a high-level mentorship session hosted by Susan Mangeni, Principal Secretary in the State Department for MSMEs Development, President Ruto shared his personal journey as a hustler in Maili Tisa, urging youths to remain resilient and make use of initiatives such as the Hustler Fund, Uwezo Fund, and the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority to grow their businesses.

Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya described the NYOTA Project as “the largest youth job creation exercise in Kenya’s history,” saying it guarantees fairness with “at least 70 beneficiaries reached in each of the 1,450 wards across the country.”

Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya urged beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely, noting that additional components such as Job Experience and Recognition of Prior Learning, will roll out after completion of business support activities.

National Assembly Trade and Cooperatives Committee Vice Chair Marianne Keitany noted that Parliament is considering the Start-Up Bill, which seeks to improve the operating environment for MSMEs by mainstreaming business development services, enabling licence waivers, and establishing structured capital support frameworks.