President William Ruto, on Monday, October 6, 2025, publicly launched the NYOTA Programme, a new government initiative that will give thousands of young Kenyans what they require to build their future.
Speaking from State House, Nairobi, the President confirmed that the program will cover youth aged between 18 and 29 years and up to 35 years for individuals with disabilities with a start-up capital of KSh 50,000 per person to start ventures. He underscored that the money is a grant, not a loan, and that the recipients shall not pay it back.
“Investing in our youth because that is where the future of Kenya lies,” the President declared. “This will open up access to opportunity for young people who have the skills but lacked resources.”
A Project to Empower over 800,000 Young People
NYOTA, which stands for National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement, will be funded by the World Bank and will benefit a direct 820,000 young people in all 1,450 wards of Kenya.
The programme is specifically reaching out to jobless and vulnerable youth, such as those who did not progress beyond Form Four. It targets 50% women, individuals with disabilities, and young people living in refugee camps in Garissa and Turkana counties.
There will be a minimum of 70 youths in every ward receive training and the KSh 50,000 stipend to enable them to start small businesses. Generally, the business support component will help 100,000 youths become entrepreneurs.
Besides capital, NYOTA has several other components:
On-job practice: 90,000 youths will be placed with local employers and craftsmen to gain practical skills under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program.
Government tenders training: 600,000 youth will receive training on how to access government procurement opportunities under the AGPO program.
Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke explained that the goal is to support youth in trades like carpentry, welding, tailoring, and other practical skills.
“This is about real work, not papers. We’re training youth and giving them a starting boost, no repayments needed,” said Mueke.
Easy Application for All – Even Without a Smartphone
In order to register, young people can dial *254# on any telephone even a basic feature phone. It is free and fully digital, removing common barriers like forms or the expense of mobility.
It is made available so that youth in rural and underprivileged areas have an equal opportunity to benefit from the programme.
As the government rolls out NYOTA with a KSh 5 billion budget planned from the World Bank, thousands of young Kenyans now have the opportunity to turn their skills and their entrepreneurial ideas into successful businesses.
How to Apply:
Dial *254# (free)
Open to youth between 18–29 years (and persons with disability up to 35 years)
Beneficiary: 820,000 youths in 1,450 wards
Value: KSh 50,000 for business growth + training
Fees