President William Ruto at the State House on October 3, 2025/PCSPresident William Ruto has confirmed that the government will use a whole-of-government approach for the nationwide roll-out of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
Speaking at a meeting with Principal Secretaries at State House, Nairobi, the President said the approach is meant to guarantee smooth and transparent implementation of the initiative.
“This is coming as a result of being deliberate about doing something about employment, empowerment and engagement with young people,” President Ruto said.
He explained that by bringing together leaders from the Executive, Legislature, and county governments, the programme will be more inclusive and reach young people across the country.
The NYOTA programme, a partnership between the Government and the World Bank, is a flagship youth empowerment initiative valued at Sh5 billion. It is designed to support 100,000 young people, with 70 beneficiaries drawn from each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards.
Each successful applicant will receive a Sh50,000 grant to kick-start entrepreneurial ventures, creating opportunities in business and enterprise.
Solicitor general of the republic of Kenya, Shadrack Moses, Chief strategy execution officer, Adan Mohammed, at the statehouse on October 3, 2025/PCS
President Ruto also noted that the programme will involve 90,000 youth in job experience training, 20,000 on recognition of prior learning, and another 600,000 on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).
On Monday, the Principal Secretaries are scheduled to meet governors, Members of Parliament, county assemblies, and chiefs to sensitise them on the programme and map out its national roll-out. This coordination aims to align all stakeholders for effective delivery across the country.
The President emphasized that NYOTA is part of a broader agenda to create meaningful opportunities for young people. Alongside affordable housing, labour mobility, and digital jobs, NYOTA will empower the next generation drivers of innovation and expand enterprise.
People at the delegation for the high-level meeting for the NYOTA programme rollout at the state house on October 3, 2025/PCS
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) PS Susan Mang’eni, whose State Department manages the KSh5 billion business support programme, said NYOTA is designed to improve livelihoods among vulnerable youth.
“We target to benefit young people in all wards. It is gender-inclusive, with emphasis on 50-50 gender parity,” Ms Mang’eni said. She added that the project focuses on improving youth employability, expanding job opportunities, supporting a youth savings culture, and enhancing youth entrepreneurs’ access to markets.
The government’s NYOTA programme is expected to offer practical and financial support to thousands of young Kenyans, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni at the state house on October 3, 2025/PCS
