A total of 110,000 vulnerable youth across Kenya could see their entrepreneurship dreams turn into reality following the launch of KES5 billion seed capital plan that will provide KES50,000 individuals to power their businesses.

The five-year project, which is funded by the World Bank, is tailored to benefit 70 young enterprising Kenyans in each of the country's 1,450 wards, in yet another push that is projected to help create jobs and enhance incomes especially among hundreds of unemployed young people.

According to President William Ruto, the program is tailor-made to encourage savings while also handholding the young entrepreneurs to pitch and start trading with the government. 

Last month, the President announced that the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) will see 90,000 youth trained to gain job experience; 20,000 on recognition of prior learning, and another 600,000 who will be coached on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities.

"It supports 110,000 youth entrepreneurs in growing their ventures, improving their lives, and creating opportunities for others," Dr. Ruto stated when he launched NYOTA Project at Mumias Sports Complex, Kakamega County, on Friday.

"NYOTA can help transform Kenya’s development.  To achieve the desired outcomes, the program will need to be judiciously implemented, with speed, at scale and with simple and well explained project implementation rules," stated Qimiao Fan, World Bank Division Director during the launch.

Form 4 education level and below

According to the World Bank, the five-year NYOTA project targets an estimated 820,000 jobless youth in Kenya aged between 18-29 years who have attained Form 4 level of education and below. However, for persons with disabilities, the age limit has been revised to 35.

"The targeted youths are those with little or no education, who are unemployed, underemployed, or in low-tier employment with very low earnings. Such youth face exclusions and are often unable to access government sponsored jobs programs. The project will reserve 50 percent of slots for female beneficiaries and 5 percent for people with disabilities," a June 2024 plan by the government states.

Working closely with the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), which is the implementing partner, thousands of beneficiaries in the NYOTA initiative will get coaching on life and business skills, mentorship, and linkages to financial services.

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