IN PHOTOS: President Ruto Disburses Sh147.5 Million NYOTA Grants to Youth in Lower Eastern

The national government has distributed Sh147.5 million to thousands of young entrepreneurs across the Lower Eastern region to support the establishment and growth of small-scale businesses. During an event held at Machakos Stadium on Thursday, President William Ruto presided over the disbursement of funds to 5,901 beneficiaries from Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties. The initiative is part of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project, a five-year programme financed by the World Bank.

Each selected youth is receiving an initial tranche of Sh25,000. Under the disbursement structure, Sh22,000 is credited to the participant’s mobile business wallet for immediate capital needs, while Sh3,000 is directed into a social security savings account. This first phase follows a mandatory training period where participants were instructed on business management and financial literacy. A second installment of Sh25,000 is expected to follow after an evaluation of the enterprises, bringing the total individual grant to Sh50,000.

The programme specifically targets vulnerable youth between the ages of 18 and 29, extending to 35 for persons with disabilities, who have attained a maximum of a Form Four education. By focusing on those who are currently unemployed or underemployed, the project aims to integrate more citizens into the formal economy. To ensure transparency, the selection process was conducted through a digital platform, bypassing manual recommendations and traditional vetting methods.

Government officials at the event confirmed that the NYOTA project is being implemented across all 1,450 wards in the country. In the three counties covered during the Machakos launch, the distribution averages between 70 and 84 beneficiaries per ward. Local leaders from the region have been encouraged to support these emerging enterprises by providing conducive regulatory environments, including potential waivers on business permits, to help the new ventures stabilise during their first months of operation.