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How to apply for NYOTA fund

Nancy Marende 28th October, 2025 01:44 AM

A nationwide validation exercise for the NYOTA Programme’s Business Support component has officially begun across all constituencies in Kenya.

The exercise, launched on Friday, October 24, 2025, marks a major step toward identifying the final list of 100,000 youth beneficiaries set to receive business start-up grants.

Also Watch: Nationwide validation for NYOTA business grants kicks off

According to a statement by the State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, the exercise aims to confirm the authenticity and eligibility of pre-selected applicants who had earlier received official invitations to participate.

“The main objective is to verify the authenticity and eligibility of applicants to generate a final, definitive list of 100,000 youth beneficiaries for the Business Support grant,” the department said in a statement posted on X.

What is the NYOTA programme?

NYOTA is a five-year national youth empowerment initiative by the government, funded by the World Bank, designed to increase employment, earnings and savings among young people aged 18–29 (and up to 35 for persons with disabilities).

The programme targets vulnerable youth with a Form 4 certificate or below who are unemployed, underemployed, or in low-income jobs.

Also Watch: Ruto unveils Ksh5B NYOTA youth fund, targets one million beneficiaries

Further, the programme aims to improve youth employability through skills training and job placement, and to expand employment/entrepreneurship opportunities through business training, mentorship, and start-up grants.

It also aims to support youth savings through automatic enrolment into the National Social Security Fund “Haba Haba” savings scheme and boost youth employment systems.

President William Ruto takes notes during a past NYOTA meeting. PHOTO/@WilliamsRuto/X

How to apply for the NYOTA fund

Below is a guide on how to apply for the fund:

Eligibilty criteria

Must be Kenyan youth aged 18-29 years (or up to 35 years if you have a disability)
Must have a Form 4 (KCSE) certificate level or lower (not university graduates for the grant component)
Must be Unemployed, under-employed or in low-income work.
You must have your National ID and the SIM card in your name.

Note: Persons who have defaulted on certain previous youth-fund loans (e.g., from the “Hustler Fund”) may be ineligible.

Apply via your phone

Dial *254# on your mobile phone.
Select the “NYOTA Project” option.
Enter personal details: National ID number, age, education level, etc. Ensure your SIM registration matches your ID.
After submission, you will receive an SMS confirming receipt of your application.

Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT)

If applying for the business-support/grant stream, you might need to complete a 19-question EAT via SMS (e.g., send “NYOTA” to 40270) or during the physical validation.

Physical validation exercise

Applicants may be required to attend a verification session at their constituency/ward headquarters. Bring original National ID (and for PWDs, disability card).
During validation, officials verify your residency, education, and employment status, and ensure you can participate in the programme.

Training & induction (if shortlisted)

If selected, you will undergo mandatory training (entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business management) before funds are disbursed.
For business‐grant beneficiaries, the first tranche of Ksh25,000 is often disbursed after training/completion of milestones; the second tranche follows further progress.

Savings enrolment

If you become a beneficiary, you are automatically enrolled in the NSSF Haba Haba savings scheme; the project may contribute monthly to the savings account for a defined period.