President William Ruto on Friday launched the second phase of the Nyota Start-Up Capital Programme, a government-backed initiative designed to help thousands of unemployed young Kenyans start and grow businesses.
The launch took place at the ASK Showgrounds in Nakuru County, where the President was joined by senior government officials to officially roll out the next phase of the programme.
The initiative aims to support youth entrepreneurs with startup capital, productive assets and business development services to help them transform viable business ideas into sustainable enterprises.
Programme targets more than 820,000 young people
The Nyota Programme is a five-year government initiative financed by the World Bank to tackle youth unemployment by expanding access to entrepreneurship opportunities across the country.
According to the government, the programme targets approximately 820,000 unemployed youth aged 18 to 29 years, while extending eligibility to persons with disabilities up to 35 years of age.
The programme is primarily aimed at young people with a Form Four education or below, providing financial support and practical tools needed to establish income-generating businesses.
Officials say the initiative seeks to unlock the economic potential of young Kenyans while promoting self-employment and reducing reliance on formal jobs.
Focus on business growth and entrepreneurship
Unlike conventional cash transfer programmes, the Nyota Start-Up Capital Programme focuses on equipping beneficiaries with resources that can generate long-term income.
Successful applicants will receive support to invest in productive business assets while also accessing entrepreneurship training intended to improve business management skills.
The government says the programme is designed to nurture a culture of innovation, savings and enterprise development among young people, enabling them to build sustainable livelihoods.
By combining financial assistance with capacity-building, the initiative aims to improve business survival rates and encourage long-term economic empowerment.
Part of government’s youth employment agenda
The launch of the second phase forms part of the government’s broader strategy to address unemployment, particularly among young people entering the labour market.
Youth unemployment remains one of Kenya’s biggest socio-economic challenges, with many school leavers struggling to secure formal employment opportunities.
Government officials say supporting youth-led enterprises is expected to stimulate local economies, create jobs and contribute to national economic growth.
The World Bank-funded programme is also expected to complement other government initiatives focused on expanding access to finance and strengthening entrepreneurship across the country.
More details expected
The government is expected to release additional information on application procedures, eligibility requirements and the rollout schedule following the official launch.
Thousands of young entrepreneurs across Kenya are expected to benefit from the programme as implementation begins in counties nationwide.
