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President William Ruto has announced that the disbursement of Ksh50,000 grants to young entrepreneurs under the World Bank-backed NYOTA Programme will commence on Monday, November 4, 2025, following a nationwide verification exercise.
President William Ruto announced on Monday, October 20, 2025, that the government will begin disbursing KSh 50,000 grants to beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme starting Monday, November 4, 2025. The programme, backed by the World Bank, aims to support young Kenyans venturing into business and technical fields.
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, President Ruto confirmed that KSh 20 billion has been allocated by the government and the World Bank to fund various youth initiatives under NYOTA. The programme is designed to reach approximately 800,000 young people through different categories, including business start-ups, technical training, and innovation support.
A nationwide verification exercise for eligible youth will commence on Friday, October 24, 2025, across all 290 constituencies. This exercise is crucial to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection of beneficiaries. President Ruto urged Members of Parliament, Members of County Assemblies, and local leaders to actively participate in and support the verification process.
The verification process was initially scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025, but was postponed following the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the subsequent declaration of a national mourning period.
The NYOTA Project is a five-year initiative by the Government of Kenya, financed by the World Bank, designed to address youth unemployment, expand income-generating opportunities, and foster a culture of savings and entrepreneurship. It builds upon the success of previous initiatives such as the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), which aimed to overcome barriers preventing young Kenyans from accessing quality employment.
Kenya faces a significant youth employment challenge, with a large percentage of its population under 35 engaged in informal, low-quality jobs. The NYOTA programme is a key pillar of the current administration's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), focusing on creating employment and self-employment opportunities for young people.
The NYOTA Project is implemented through a multi-agency approach, involving various government departments and authorities. The project emphasizes transparency and inclusivity, with a whole-of-government approach to ensure smooth and successful implementation. The selection process aims to eliminate fraud and political favouritism through an integrated system that verifies applicants' age, education status, and voter registration.
The programme targets 820,000 vulnerable youth across all 47 counties. Eligibility criteria include being a Kenyan citizen aged 18-29 years (up to 35 for Persons with Disabilities), having a Form Four level of education or below, and being unemployed, underemployed, or working in low-income jobs. The programme also aims for a 50:50 gender balance and reserves 5% of slots for Persons with Disabilities.
Youth can apply through a free USSD code (*254#) on any mobile phone. Beneficiaries are required to attend a four-day business services training, after which the KSh 50,000 start-up capital is disbursed in two tranches of KSh 25,000 each, subject to successful participation in training and mentorship sessions.
While the NYOTA Programme offers significant opportunities, concerns have been raised regarding the need for sound financial management. Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro, on Monday, October 13, 2025, urged the government to consider topping up the World Bank funding to expand the programme's reach and allow more youth to benefit or receive higher support. He also highlighted the country's national debt, emphasizing the need for strategic financial solutions.
The exact number of youth targeted for the KSh 50,000 business grant specifically remains a point of slight variation across sources, with some indicating 100,000 youth and others referring to 70 beneficiaries per ward across 1,450 wards. However, the overall target for the NYOTA project is consistently stated as approximately 820,000 to 800,000 vulnerable youth.
The successful implementation of the verification exercise and the transparent disbursement of funds will be critical in building public trust and ensuring the programme achieves its intended impact. The involvement of local leaders in the verification process is expected to enhance accountability. The long-term impact of the NYOTA Programme on youth employment and entrepreneurship in Kenya will be closely monitored.
