I was about to close shop but Nyota saved the day – beneficiary

A Nyota beneficiary in Mombasa displays her Mpesa message / JOHN CHESOLI

President William Ruto with a Nyota beneficiary from Old Town, Mombasa / JOHN CHESOLI

Juma Hassan, 22, loves drunkards—not because of their behaviour, but because they are mostly his clients.

Every morning in Frere Town ward, Nyali, Hassan makes broth for revellers seeking their daily ‘medicine’. The broth serves as a quick remedy for the physical strain alcohol puts on the body.

“Every day, I make broth that can feed about 40 people. They buy broth worth between Sh20 and Sh100,” he says.

However, rising meat prices began to strain his business and sales started to drop.

“I was about to give up and close shop. But I attended a youth summit organised by the Said Abdalla Foundation, where I realised I was not the only one going through financial and business challenges. I was encouraged to continue,” Hassan says.

When the opportunity arose, he applied for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) programme.

On Friday, his business received a Sh22,000 boost.

“I never really thought it would be true. I just applied because Saido told us not to fear and to apply. Honestly, I thought it was a scam,” Hassan says.

“I think I will now make more broth. I will also buy hotpots and thermoses to keep it warm. I am even thinking of buying a microwave to reheat the broth once it gets cold. I have not really decided,” he adds.

Saido, whose real name is Said Abdalla, is the patron of the Said Abdalla Foundation.

On Friday, Hassan was among 5,880 young entrepreneurs from Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties who received Sh147 million through the Nyota programme.

The initiative was launched in Mombasa by President William Ruto at the Mkomani Showground. Beneficiaries were drawn from 70 wards across the three counties, including 30 wards in Mombasa, 20 in Kwale and 20 in Taita Taveta.

Under the Nyota Business Start-up Capital component, each beneficiary receives Sh25,000 in the first phase. Of this amount, Sh22,000 is deposited directly into Pochi la Biashara to ensure it is not consumed by Fuliza or the Hustler Fund, while the remaining Sh3,000 is deposited into a Haba na Haba Savings Account managed by the National Social Security Fund.

In the second phase, beneficiaries will receive an additional Sh25,000, bringing the total start-up capital to Sh50,000 for each of the 121,000 young entrepreneurs nationwide.

Hassan also underwent mandatory four-day business skills training, which equips young entrepreneurs with practical skills to start and grow their businesses.

President Ruto said that so far, 114,000 young entrepreneurs have benefited from the Nyota programme.

He said unemployment remains the biggest challenge facing Kenyan youth, prompting his administration to support young people in starting businesses.

“This programme is not about who you are or who you know. It is not about political parties or patronage,” Ruto said.

He added that the initiative targets Kenyans aged between 18 and 29 who are unemployed or underemployed, particularly those with secondary-level education or lower. The total number of youth targeted is 820,000.

“The programme is designed especially for those who have not had any opportunity to do business,” he said.

Saido said critics had been spreading claims that the Nyota programme was a scam, but these claims had now been disproved.

He added that youth had gone too long without employment and needed empowerment to engage in business.

“We cannot continue using youth for political gains without helping them develop,” he said.

President Ruto echoed these sentiments, criticising those who claim the government has done little to help the youth.

He said employment does not happen by chance and must be deliberately planned, adding that more opportunities await Kenyan youth under his administration.

“We have many young people graduating from universities, colleges and vocational institutions every year. If we do not have deliberate plans for them, they will end up hurting people,” Ruto said.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the programme, which targets 820,000 young people, could be expanded to benefit more than a million.

He said Nyota is one of several initiatives under the Kenya Kwanza administration aimed at empowering youth.

“Some youth will get jobs through affordable housing, market construction, road construction and other infrastructure projects,” Kindiki said.

He added that some politicians prefer youth to remain jobless so they can be used as goons, hecklers or bloggers to insult other leaders.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the county government would remove licensing bottlenecks to ensure Nyota beneficiaries can start their businesses without hindrance.

He added that the county would establish a youth fund to support further business growth, while the Skills Mtaani Initiative would help youth acquire skills to effectively use the Nyota funds.

“This Nyota programme did not ask for tribe, political party, race or religion. It is non-discriminatory,” Nassir said.

Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliff Oparanya said capital and markets are crucial for business success.

“After the four-day training, beneficiaries receive six months of mentorship, followed by another three-day training. This programme equips them with business skills,” Oparanya said.