The event, held at the ASK Showground in Nakuru, brought together beneficiaries from Nakuru, Baringo, Nyandarua and neighbouring counties under the government's nationwide rollout of the second Nyota Fund disbursement.
Kindiki said the Kenya Kwanza administration remains committed to addressing youth unemployment by investing in entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
"The government is committed to ensuring that young people have access to capital, training and mentorship so they can establish and grow sustainable businesses that create wealth and employment," the Deputy President said.
The second phase of the programme will see 122,203 young entrepreneurs receive a total of Sh3.06 billion in business grants, marking a significant increase from the Sh2.28 billion disbursed during the first phase. The beneficiaries had already completed entrepreneurship training and mentorship before qualifying for the additional business capital.
Kindiki said the government was shifting its focus from merely helping young people start businesses to enabling them to expand and become employers.
"Our objective is not just to help young people start businesses, but to empower them to grow those enterprises into successful ventures that create jobs and contribute to the country's economic transformation," he said.
The Deputy President said the Nyota Programme is one of the government's flagship youth empowerment initiatives, implemented in partnership with the World Bank and several government agencies, including the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, the National Employment Authority, the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
He encouraged beneficiaries to invest the funds responsibly and take advantage of the business mentorship offered under the programme.
"I urge every beneficiary to use these resources prudently. This is not money for consumption but capital meant to strengthen your businesses, improve your livelihoods and create opportunities for fellow young Kenyans," Kindiki said.
According to the government, more than 90,000 beneficiaries who received grants during the first phase have already established businesses after undergoing entrepreneurship training.
Officials say the second disbursement is expected to accelerate business growth while creating more employment opportunities across the country.
The Nyota Programme combines financial support with business development training, mentorship, savings and market linkages to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills needed to build resilient enterprises.
During the event, beneficiaries from several counties expressed optimism that the additional funding would enable them to expand their businesses, purchase equipment, increase stock and employ more young people.
The rollout in Nakuru forms part of a series of regional disbursement exercises being conducted across the country as the government implements the second phase of the NYOTA Programme, which seeks to empower thousands of youth through entrepreneurship and sustainable economic opportunities.
Beneficiaries from Nakuru county wait to participate in the Nyota Programme's second business capital disbursement at the regional event in Nakuru on July 10 /HANDOUT
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki acknowledges the crowd upon arrival at the Nyota Programme second disbursement event in Nakuru county on July 10 /HANDOUT
