Ruto Launches NYOTA Phase Two, Releases Sh3 Billion to 122,000 Youth

President William Ruto has launched the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, releasing more than Sh3 billion in grants to over 122,000 young entrepreneurs at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.

Speaking at the event, the President rejected criticism of the programme, particularly claims that the Sh25,000 start-up grants are too small to support businesses. He said every successful business starts on a small scale and described the initiative as a way to create opportunities rather than provide handouts.

Nearly 89,000 beneficiaries received a second round of funding after showing they had used their first grants responsibly. More than 33,000 new participants also received their first grants. To reduce costs for young entrepreneurs, Ruto announced a two-year waiver on business permit fees for NYOTA businesses. 

He also directed officials to establish a national identification system to make it easier for participants to access government services and financing. The event also included a light-hearted moment when a young woman joined the President on stage and asked for a hug before performing a spoken word piece she had written during his presidential campaign.

The performance was met with cheers from the audience, and Ruto responded with humour as he praised her creativity. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, speaking at a separate event in Nakuru, defended the programme against claims that the grants are too small. He said NYOTA is aimed at young people aged 18 to 29 who often lack formal qualifications and face difficulties finding work.

Kindiki said the programme has been designed to be inclusive, with equal numbers of male and female beneficiaries and five per cent of places reserved for persons with disabilities. He added that it also offers industrial attachments, certification for skilled workers without formal qualifications and support for young people seeking government procurement opportunities.

Describing NYOTA as "the fairest government programme ever", Kindiki said beneficiaries are selected from every county and ward to ensure broad representation. He challenged critics to propose alternative solutions if they believed the grants were inadequate and said future phases of the programme would provide higher levels of support.

The NYOTA programme is now in its second phase as the government seeks to address youth unemployment and encourage entrepreneurship. Alongside financial support, it includes measures to reduce regulatory costs and expand skills development.