NYOTA INVESTS KSH 189 MILLION TO POWER YOUTH ENTERPRISES IN NORTH EASTERN KENYA
7,560 young entrepreneurs in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa receive start-up capital and savings boost under the Government’s transformative youth agenda.
The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project has disbursed KSh 189 million in Business Start-Up Capital Grants to 7,560 youth across the North Eastern region, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment.
The beneficiaries, drawn from Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties, each received KSh 22,000, with an additional KSh 3,000 invested in their individual savings accounts under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Haba Haba Scheme, promoting a culture of savings alongside enterprise growth.
In Garissa County, 2,520 youth from all 30 wards received a total of KSh 63 million, while 5,040 youth across Mandera and Wajir counties received KSh 126 million in combined business support grants.
Speaking during the disbursement event in Mandera County, William Ruto urged beneficiaries to invest the funds in viable enterprises that create sustainable livelihoods and contribute to national transformation.
“When young people are empowered with skills, capital, and mentorship, they become drivers of development in their communities and contributors to national prosperity,” the President stated.
He emphasized that sustainable empowerment goes beyond financial support, calling on young entrepreneurs to embrace innovation, financial discipline, and collaboration to build resilient businesses.
Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Salim Mvurya described the disbursement as a defining milestone in advancing youth-centered development.
Improving Youth Employability: On-the-Job Experience (OJE)
The NYOTA Project reopened applications for its On-the-Job Experience (OJE) intervention, with a deadline of midnight on 13th February 2026.
The OJE component equips youth with practical workplace experience and includes:
- A monthly stipend of KSh 6,000 for six months
- Mandatory Social Emotional Skills Development (SESD) training
- Government-supported assessment and certification costs
- Structured savings through the Haba Haba Scheme
The intervention is designed to strengthen employability, enhance workplace readiness, and ease youth transition into sustainable employment and enterprise.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Certifying Skills, Unlocking Potential
Through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) intervention, NYOTA has completed awareness and screening exercises across all 47 counties.
The initiative targets over 63,000 applicants and aims to assess and certify 20,000 young artisans, providing nationally recognised certification to improve their employability and access to economic opportunities. Guidance on submitting evidence will be communicated in due course.
About the NYOTA Project
The NYOTA Project is a World Bank-financed Government of Kenya initiative focused on enhancing youth employability, enterprise development, and savings. It targets unemployed youth aged 18–29 years, and up to 35 years for persons with disabilities.
Coordinated by the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, the project is implemented through a multi-agency framework involving key government institutions, including the State Departments for Labour and Skills Development and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, the National Industrial Training Authority, National Employment Authority, Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, and the National Social Security Fund.
