The government is set to begin a major phase of the NYOTA project rollout, launching business-training sessions across 25 additional counties.
The rollout, commencing on Friday, November 14, 2025, is part of a countrywide effort to equip vulnerable young Kenyans with entrepreneurship skills and start-up capital.
The latest phase marks one of the most extensive training operations under the NYOTA initiative so far, covering 151 constituencies and 754 wards and targeting 63,231 beneficiaries who have already received SMS notifications confirming their selection and training venues.
According to the State Department for MSMEs Development, the four-day training will be conducted within constituencies, using mapped training centres, with some expansive constituencies assigned multiple centres to reduce travel distances.
“We have mapped out a total of 222 training centres, with some constituencies depending on their vastness, having more than one training centre,” Principal Secretary for MSMEs Susan Mang’eni said.
“In constituencies with more than one training centre, the beneficiaries are urged to choose the nearest training centre. However, it must be within their respective constituency.”
Beneficiaries have been advised to attend at least three of the four training days to qualify for start-up funding disbursements, which will follow immediately after the classroom sessions conclude.
The counties launching training in this phase include Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Nandi, Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, and Bomet.
The rollout follows the successful launch of the NYOTA Project on November 7 at the Mumias Sports Complex in Kakamega County, which also marked the disbursement of business start-up capital for the Western Cluster.
In that phase, 12,155 beneficiaries from Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia counties received a combined Sh303,875,000 in start-up capital.
Each beneficiary accessed Sh22,000 through their NYOTA Pochi la Biashara, including a mandatory Sh3,000 savings component designed to promote a culture of financial discipline and serve as a risk-mitigation mechanism.
PS Mang’eni, who delivered the update alongside project coordinators, said the rapid expansion of training into the 25 counties signals the government’s commitment to reaching all targeted wards across the country.
The project aims to empower over 100,000 vulnerable youth across 1,450 wards, with at least 70 beneficiaries per ward.
An additional 10,000 participants, 5,000 refugees and 5,000 members of host communities, will be integrated into the programme in Kakuma and Dadaab once intake processes are complete.
The saving component, officials noted, is also designed to secure future access to credit from mainstream financial institutions by enabling beneficiaries to build financial track records and collateral substitutes.
Trainings in the remaining 18 counties, including Nairobi,
Kiambu, Nyeri, Mombasa, Marsabit, Garissa, and others, are scheduled to begin
toward the end of next week, completing the nationwide rollout.
