President William Ruto will today officially launch the Nyota Programme in Mumias West, Kakamega County, marking a major milestone in the government’s effort to empower small businesses and youth enterprises under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The launch ceremony will be held at the Mumias Sports Complex.
The programme’s rollout follows the completion of a competitive selection and training process for beneficiaries drawn from across the country.
At least several thousand entrepreneurs are expected to benefit from the initial phase, receiving grants of up to Sh50,000 each to start or grow their businesses.
According to MSMEs Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni, the training sessions were designed to equip beneficiaries with financial literacy, business management, and entrepreneurship skills before the funds are disbursed.
“The training will be followed by a four-month mentorship program, during which beneficiaries will be linked to local business ecosystems and economic opportunities to enhance their chances of success,” she said.
Mang’eni added that the mentorship phase will be supported by various agencies, including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates, and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation Project (KJET).
These partnerships, she said, will ensure that participants are not only funded but also adequately guided to sustain and expand their ventures.
Beneficiaries will, however, receive Sh25, 000 being the first instalment.
Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana hailed the initiative as a practical intervention to promote self-reliance among young people and small traders.
He revealed that at least 70 beneficiaries from each ward across Shinyalu Constituency have been identified for the first phase, each set to receive grants under the Nyota Programme.
“Following a rigorous selection and validation process, the first cohort of Nyota Program participants has been identified and will each receive business support to strengthen their enterprises,” said Ikana.
The Nyota Programme is one of the government’s flagship initiatives under BETA aimed at addressing unemployment and limited access to capital among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The launch will officially mark the start of the disbursement of the Sh5billion grant targeting 100,000 youth across the country.
President Ruto is expected to use the launch to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to grassroots economic empowerment, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods.
With the operational framework now in place and the first batch of beneficiaries already contacted, the Nyota Programme is set to inject fresh momentum into Kenya’s small business sector, helping transform ideas into thriving enterprises across the country.
Speaking during an event in Doha, Qatar Wednesday, Ruto announced that over the next five years, the programme will reach over 5 million Kenyans.
Nyota is a five-year initiative, supported by the World Bank, aimed at increasing employment, earnings and promoting savings among youth.
It has four main components, which are improving youth employability, expanding employment opportunities, supporting youth savings and strengthening youth employment systems.
Applicants must be youth aged 18-29 and up to 35 for persons with disabilities and must have completed up to Form 4 or below, and be unemployed or under-employed/low income.
The programme uses digital application options (for example, via *254# mobile platform) to simplify access and reduce barriers.
