Thousands of young entrepreneurs to receive Ksh.3B in second phase of NYOTA programme

Ksh3.06 billion will be invested in the second phase, up from the Ksh2.28 billion that was distributed to 121,800 entrepreneurs in the first phase of the programme.

In the first phase, more than 91,253 beneficiaries completed Business Development Services training before receiving their first business grants. Beyond the financial investment, 90,478 beneficiaries completed structured mentorship, and by the end of the first mentorship cycle, 96 per cent had already established operating businesses.

With over 2.5 million applications received from Kenyan youth seeking to join the programme, there was a need for the second phase, as this demonstrated the scale of Kenya's entrepreneurial spirit and the demand for meaningful economic opportunity.

While the initial implementation largely focused on beneficiaries drawn from Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado, where young entrepreneurs received entrepreneurship training, mentorship and start-up financing before launching or expanding their businesses, phase 2 of the Nyota Programme seeks to go to North Eastern Kenya, where the the programme will have presence in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, and Marsabit.

Cabinet Secretaries have been tasked to oversee this phase.

Health CS Aden Duale will preside over the programme in Garissa County, Environment CS Deborah Barasa will lead Wajir and Mining CS Hassan Joho will oversee Mandera. In Marsabit, Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo will be the point man.

The leaders will champion the first regional engagement to ensure opportunity reaches every corner of Kenya.

From Northern Kenya, the programme extends to the Western region, bringing together entrepreneurs from Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga counties under the leadership of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. 

It then moves to the Central Rift region, which will comprise Baringo, Nakuru and Nyandarua. This will be overseen by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. 

Along the Coast, beneficiaries from Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta will participate in the Lower Coast Cluster, to be led by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, while entrepreneurs from Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River will gather for the Upper Coast Cluster, led by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe. 

In phase II, 33,269 first-time beneficiaries will receive their first business grants, and 88,934 continuing entrepreneurs will get a second tranche of financing to strengthen and expand businesses they have already established.

This phase marks the evolution of NYOTA from supporting business creation to accelerating business growth.

This multiplier effect has the potential to catalyse between 150,000 and 250,000 additional jobs, while strengthening Kenya's MSME ecosystem and activating the country's long-awaited demographic dividend. 

As the programme matures, its focus is naturally shifting beyond business creation towards long-term business growth. The next chapter of NYOTA is about creating an enabling environment where successful entrepreneurs can continue to thrive. 

This includes working with county governments to remove barriers such as business permits and licensing requirements, establishing a unique NYOTA entrepreneur identity to unlock targeted government support, and strengthening pathways into larger financing mechanisms through the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) and Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET). 

Phase II of the Nyota Programme will ensure that 122,203 more young Kenyans receive that same opportunity - and, in doing so, help write the next chapter of Kenya's economic transformation.