NYOTA: How 100,000 entrepreneurs will be gauged to receive Ksh50K grants
The Principal Secretary of the newly established State Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development, Susan Mang’eni, has announced how entrepreneurs will be gauged before receiving the Ksh50,000 grant under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
Speaking in an interview with a local media house on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, PS Mang’eni revealed that the process begins with a comprehensive business development training for a period of time, almost four months.
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She noted that prospects will undergo classroom training as well as a mentorship before they are issued the Ksh50,000 grant.
“It begins by subjecting you to training, a comprehensive business development. So, like, you undergo classroom training as well as a mentorship for a period of time, almost four months,” PS Mang’eni said.
Aptitude test
The PS further revealed that all the entrepreneurs will first be subjected to an entrepreneurial aptitude test to gauge individuals’ business minds.
“But even before you’re selected, so everybody applies, you’ll be subjected to an entrepreneurial aptitude test, just to gauge your business mind and your business intent,” PS Mang’eni said.
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The PS further revealed that after the training, entrepreneurs will receive the first batch of the grant, which will be 50 per cent.
“After one week, you’re given 50 per cent of that grant, and we have introduced a mandatory saving of 12 per cent because here we are forming a businessperson, and saving is part of the attributes of a good businessperson,” PS added.
Likewise, after receiving the 50 per cent of the grant, all the entrepreneurs will have business assessments done after two months to follow up on their progress.
“So we have recruited BDS firms across the country, certified BDS firms. So they will hold you for a period of two months, looking at how your business is coming along. So after two months, they assess you,'” she added.
In addition, the PS noted that after the assessment, individuals are guaranteed to get the remaining part of the instalments.
“And then at that point, you get to the remaining installment of part of your capital. And then your journey doesn’t stop there. You’ve just ventured into a business pipeline. Now we get you into an MSME ecosystem, where we enhance your skills again through training,” she added.
Ruto details NYOTA programme
The president explained that the NYOTA programme is a partnership between the government and the World Bank.
At the time of the rollout preparations, Ruto pointed out that by bringing together leaders from the Executive, Legislature and county governments, the government is making the programme inclusive.
“This is coming as a result of being deliberate about doing something about employment, empowerment and engagement with young people,” he said.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Principal Secretaries at State House, Nairobi, on preparations for the NYOTA programme roll-out.
Ruto announced that the flagship youth empowerment initiative is valued at Ksh5 billion.
It is designed to support 100,000 young people across the country, with 70 beneficiaries drawn from each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards.
Each successful applicant will receive a Ksh50,000 grant to kick-start their entrepreneurial ventures, opening up opportunities in business and enterprise.
Additionally, President Ruto said the programme will also involve 90,000 youth who will be trained to gain job experience, 20,000 on recognition of prior learning, and another 600,000 who will be trained on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).
