President William Ruto on Monday dispatched all Principal Secretaries (PSs) to their home counties to rollout of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) programme.
The launches will formally mark the start of Sh5 billion initiative aimed at supporting 100,000 young people with start-up capital, training, and mentorship.
The Nyota Project, carried out in partnership with the World Bank, aims to tackle youth unemployment through practical, inclusive, and results-based interventions.
“The 5 billion shillings NYOTA programme rollout happens nationwide in all 47 counties. 70 youth-run businesses in each of the 1,450 wards in Kenya to get a boost of 50,000 shillings capital injection,” Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said.
According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Nyota is one of the flagship job creation programmes under President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The project seeks to give young people across Kenya the tools, skills, and resources to improve their employability and launch sustainable enterprises.
The rollout of the Sh5 billion Nyota Project marks one of the most ambitious youth empowerment efforts in Kenya’s recent history — combining digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, and community-driven participation to address unemployment from the ground up.
Who will benefit
The Nyota Project targets over 820,000 vulnerable youth between the ages of 18 and 29 years across all 1,450 wards in the country. For persons with disabilities, the age limit extends to 35 years.
The initiative also upholds 50% gender parity and ensures the inclusion of youth in refugee camps in Garissa and Turkana counties. At least 5% of all opportunities are reserved for persons with disabilities.
The project is structured around three key pathways designed to build skills, create jobs, and foster entrepreneurship, including On-Job Experience. This component provides youth with both technical and socio-emotional skills. Beneficiaries will gain hands-on training and mentorship from master craftsmen and employers. It targets at least 90,000 youth nationwide.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which aims to recognise and certify existing skills to improve employability among young people. It targets 20,000 youth across Kenya.
On Business Support, the project will provide 100,000 young entrepreneurs with business development training and a start-up capital grant of Sh50,000 each.
The beneficiaries will be drawn from all wards, with an average of 70 entrepreneurs per ward.
In addition to the start-up support, the Nyota Project will train 600,000 youth entrepreneurs on how to access government procurement opportunities under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme.
This will help them tap into sustainable markets and expand their businesses.
The project also encourages a mandatory savings culture, where beneficiaries under the on-job experience and business support components are required to save 12% of their earnings or grants.
“These savings will be matched by the project for those who maintain consistent saving habits. The goal is to reduce financial risks, promote social protection, and build financial discipline among the youth.”
The government has also embraced digital technology to ensure fair and transparent access to opportunities.
Applications are made through a zero-rated USSD code, *254#, accessible on both feature phones and smartphones.
The initial application phase, rolled out in March 2025, with the business support component alone attracting 1.4 million applications, with 1.1 million completed successfully.
“To capture those who missed out earlier, the government has reopened the application window for the business support component. The new registration period runs from October 6 to October 12, 2025.”
Beyond job creation, the Nyota Project is framed as a symbol of hope and empowerment. Officials describe it as an investment in the country’s human capital and a demonstration of the government’s belief that every young Kenyan has potential.
It also reflects the philosophy of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to empower communities at the grassroots by providing tools and resources for economic self-reliance.
“NYOTA is not just about jobs; it’s about giving our young people the tools, skills, and confidence to shape their own future,” the ministry noted.
PSs dispatched to counties
Principal Secretaries were deployed across all 47 counties to preside over the launches in line with the government’s Whole-of-Government Approach aimed at ensuring inclusivity and transparency.
Transport PS Mohamed Daghar will be at Ronald Ngala Social in Mvita, Mombasa County, while Research colleague Prof Abdulrazak Shaukat will officiate the program at Kwale cultural centre.
Youth PS Fikirini Jacobs will be at St Thomas Hall, Kilifi, while PS Cabinet Affairs Idris Dakota will be at Hola Primary School, Tana River County.
“This is in line with a Whole-of-Government Approach to ensure inclusivity and transparency in the rollout of this very transformative job creation initiative, targeting vulnerable Kenyan youths at the bottom of the economic pyramid,” the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development said in a statement.
PS Abubakar Hassan (Trade Investments) will be at Lamu County Commander Centre, Shadrack Mwadime (Labour) at CDH Mwatate Hall, Taita Taveta, Aden Abdi Milah (Maritme) at Garissa University Amphitheatre and Umi Mohamed Bashir (Culture) at ICT Hall, Wajir town.
Ahmed Abdisalan (Coordination) and Ismael Maalim Madey (Youth Affairs) will be at Mandera’s Governor’s Hall, Harsama Kello (Semi Arid) in Marsabit’s ACK Hall and Mohamed Liban (Petroleum) at Isiolo Catholic Social Hall.
Patrick Kilemi (Cooperatives), Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) and Roselyn Njogu (Diaspora Affairs) will be at Kamundi Hall, Meru town, while Betsy Njagi will be at Chuka University in Tharaka Nithi, Esther Muoria (TIVET) at Talent Academy Embu, Jonathan Mueke (Livestock) at JICA Hall Kitui, Sylivia Museiya (Wildlife) will be at Machakos Social Hall and Teresia Mbaika (Devolution) at Wote TTI Hall, Makueni.
Joseph Mbugua (Transport) will be at Olkalau CDF Hall, Nyandarua, while his three colleagues, Alex Wachira (Energy), Anne Wangombe and Carolyne Karugu (EAC) will be at Nyeri National Polytechnic Hall.
Mary Muthoni (Public Health) will be at Kirinyaga Girls Hall, Elijah Mwangi (Sports) at Mothers Union Hall in Muranga, Salome Muhia (Correctional Services) at KINAP Kiambu, Samson Wangusi (PAS-OP) and Jacob Namuleni in Lodwar Vocational Training Centre, Turkana.
Joel Arumonyang (Public Works) will be at Mtello Hall, Kapenguria, West Pokot, Michael Lenasolon (Deolution) in Maralal Vocation Training Centre, Samburu, while Korir Singoei (Foreign Affairs) and Harry Kimtai (Agriculture) will be at Kitale National Polytechnic, Trans Nzioa.
Education PS Prof Julius Bitok and his MSME counterpart Susan Mangeni will be at Usain Gishu County Multipurpose Hall, Treasury’s Chris Kiptoo at KMTC Iten and Immigration PS Belio Kipsang in Kipchoge Keino Stadium, Nandi County.
ICT PS John Tanui will be at KSG Baringo, Defence PS Patrick Mariru at Laikipia East CDF Hall in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, while Housing PS Charles Hinga and his Environment colleague Festus Ngeno will be at Nakuru Youth Polytechnic.
Tourism PS John Ololtuaa, Water’s Julius Korir and Justice Department PS Judith Pareno will be at Narok Youth Empowerment Centre, while Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimani will be at Maasai Technical Training Institute (MTTI), Kajiado.
Parliamentary Affairs PS Aurelia Rono will be at St. Bhakita Hall, Bomet County, Higher Education’s Beatrice Inyangala at Magharibi Hall, Kakamega; Public Service PS Jane Imbunya at DIDC Hall, Vihiga and Industry PS Juma Mukhwana at Red Cross Hall, Bungoma.
Planning PS Bonface Makhoha at County Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Busia, Medical Services PS Ouma Oluga at IEBC Hall in Siaya, while two PSs, Regina Ombam (Trade) and Caren Angengo (Children Services) will be in Tom Mboya Labour College, Kisumu.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo will be at DICECE Hall in Homabay, while Cyrell Odede (Investment) and Joseph Motari (Social Protection) will be at Migori Teachers Training Centre.
ICT PS Stephen Isaboke will be at Kisii National Polytechnic, Solicitor General Shadrack Mose at West Mugirango NG-CDF Hall in Nyamira, as Lands PS Nixon Korir presides over the Nairobi event at Kariakor Social Hall.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!