Waiguru waives business permit charges for NYOTA start-ups in Kirinyaga

Youths putting up businesses with cash from the NYOTA fund will be excepted from paying for permits in Kirinyaga, Governor Anne Waiguru has announced. 

Waiguru said the moved is part of her administration’s commitment to youth empowerment and will help to remove bottlenecks that often hinder young entrepreneurs at the early stages of their ventures.

Speaking at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi during the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Program on Monday,  Waiguru positioned Kirinyaga county as a strong partner in the national agenda to transform young people into job creators rather than job seekers.

The NYOTA Program, which celebrates youth talent, resilience and innovation, is already delivering tangible results in Kirinyaga where 1,265 young people have benefited.

They have gained critical skills, exposure and confidence to pursue entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

Waiguru said her administration has deliberately aligned county policies to support such initiatives, noting that waiving business permits for NYOTA start-ups will allow young entrepreneurs to focus on growth and innovation without the burden of regulatory costs.

“As the county government of Kirinyaga, we are fully committed to supporting this program. We have waived licenses for our youth so that they can start and grow their businesses without unnecessary obstacles,” she said.

President William Ruto who is spearheading the program has called on counties to establish business support units to nurture start-ups and mainstream youth into the entrepreneurial space.

Waiguru said Kirinyaga has already taken concrete steps to institutionalise youth empowerment.

She said the county has set aside Sh60 million to complement the NYOTA initiative and to support some of the young people who applied but were not absorbed into the national program.

“With over two million applicants nationally, it is clear that the demand for youth empowerment far exceeds available slots. That is why we have allocated resources at the county level to ensure that young people with viable business ideas are not left behind,” Waiguru said.

Beyond financing, the governor noted that the county will roll out targeted capacity-building programs to equip youth with entrepreneurial, financial and technical skills necessary to succeed in business.

To further entrench equality of opportunity and participation, Waiguru disclosed that Kirinyaga county has proposed amendments to the County Empowerment and Development Fund, to convert it from a loan-based facility to a grant-based funding following public participation.

The regulations have already been tabled before the county assembly for approval, a move expected to unlock the Sh60 million that has already been budgeted for to support the empowerment programs.