The Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Cooperatives, is launching a new youth fund program to empower young people across the country.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Trade and Cooperatives, ministry officials shared details of the initiative—called the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project—which aims to provide Ksh50,000 to young entrepreneurs. The project will be rolled out nationwide, with 70 youths in each ward set to benefit.
Officials from the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), including Project Coordinator Caroline Kioko and Senior Enterprise Development Officer Evans Ballut, explained that NYOTA builds on the Kenya Youth Empowerment Program (KYEOP). The goal is to boost youth employment, increase earnings, and encourage savings among vulnerable groups.
Under the program, over 100,000 young Kenyans will receive Ksh50,000 in two instalments of Ksh25,000. The funds will help them start or expand businesses, along with additional support like business development training and mentorship. The initiative is open to youths aged 18 to 29, with an extended age limit of 35 for those with disabilities. It also specifically targets those with a Form Four education or lower, including school dropouts.
However, some MPs, led by Committee Chairperson Benard Shinali, questioned whether Ksh50,000 was enough to launch a business. MSEA officials reassured them, pointing out that many successful ventures start with small amounts.
“There are plenty of businesses that can get off the ground with Ksh25,000 or even less. Take the Hustler Fund, for example—it starts at just Ksh500, which can be enough for someone to buy vegetables to resell at the market,” Kioko explained.