President Ruto Unveils 258 Million NYOTA Fund to Ignite Youth Entrepreneurship.

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President Ruto Unveils 258 Million NYOTA Fund to Ignite Youth Entrepreneurship.

President William Ruto, flanked by Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki, Cabinet Secretaries and county governors, addresses youth during the launch of the Sh258 million NYOTA Start-Up Capital Fund at Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Monday 

By Jeff Oyugi.

Nairobi - January 19, 2026

President William Ruto on Monday presided over the launch of the NYOTA Project Business Start-Up Capital disbursement at the Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani, unveiling a Sh258.4 million package aimed at accelerating youth entrepreneurship in Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado counties.

The first phase of the programme will benefit 10,337 young entrepreneurs, each receiving Sh25,000 to start or expand small businesses. Of this amount, Sh22,000 will be credited directly to beneficiaries’ Pochi la Biashara accounts to support immediate business needs, while Sh3,000 will be deposited into a Haba na Haba savings account managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), promoting a culture of savings among young entrepreneurs.

Under the second phase of the NYOTA Start-Up Capital programme, beneficiaries will receive an additional Sh25,000, raising the total government support per youth to Sh50,000.

Speaking at the launch, President William Ruto reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment, saying access to opportunity would not be determined by religious, political or social background. He described the NYOTA Project as a comprehensive intervention designed to go beyond financing.

“The NYOTA Project integrates start-up capital with business skills training, mentorship and structured support from county governments to ensure youth-led enterprises are sustainable and scalable,” the President said.

He further urged young people to tap into complementary government programmes, including the Labour Export Programme run by the National Employment Authority, the Affordable Housing Programme and opportunities emerging from Kenya’s fast-growing digital economy.

Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki said the NYOTA Project reflects the Government’s whole-of-government approach to job creation and enterprise development, noting that youth are central to Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.

Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Dr Wycliffe Oparanya, said the selection of beneficiaries follows a ward-based pipeline aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), ensuring inclusivity and grassroots impact across communities.

Youth Affairs, Sports and the Creative Economy Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya assured beneficiaries of his ministry’s readiness to fully implement all components of the programme, emphasising that every deserving young Kenyan would be given a fair and equal opportunity to benefit.

Governors present at the event were Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi, Joseph Ole Lenku, Kajiado and Anne Waiguru, Kirinyaga who pledged county-level support for NYOTA entrepreneurs, including waivers on business licence fees and targeted capacity-building programmes to help youth-owned enterprises grow and thrive.

The NYOTA Project is a key pillar of the Government’s youth empowerment strategy, aimed at reducing unemployment, stimulating grassroots enterprise and strengthening Kenya’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprise sector.

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