More than 100 youths from Turkana County have raised serious concerns after failing to receive funds promised under the government’s National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business support programme, despite successfully completing the registration process.
The affected youths say they registered for the programme in Eldoret City with high hopes of benefiting from the initiative, which was publicly launched to support young entrepreneurs.
However, weeks later, many of them are still unable to access the funds that were supposed to be sent directly to their mobile phones, as earlier promised by President William Ruto.
According to the youths, the problem may be linked to alleged interference by cartels operating within the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector.
They claim these groups may have compromised the system, locking out genuine beneficiaries who followed all the required procedures.
After repeated failed attempts to access the stipend, some of the frustrated youths reached out to NYOTA programme officials based in Nairobi.
They were advised to report the issue at government offices in Lodwar. Acting on that guidance, the youths arrived at the Lodwar offices early in the morning, hoping to get answers or assistance.
Their efforts, however, were met with disappointment. Upon arrival, they reportedly found no staff available to attend to their complaints or explain why the funds had not been released.
“We came very early in the morning, but there is no one here to listen to us or help us,” one visibly frustrated youth told journalists outside the offices.
The youths are now demanding transparency from the programme’s administrators. They want clear communication on when and how the funds will be released, as well as assurances that the system has not been manipulated to favor certain individuals.
Another beneficiary accused cartels within the MSME space of exploiting government programmes for personal gain. “It looks like the system has already been interfered with by cartels who control tenders and inflate prices, pushing out honest youths who genuinely want to do business,” the youth claimed, raising concerns about accountability and fairness.
These complaints emerged on the same day President William Ruto was unveiling Phase Two of the NYOTA project at Archers Post in Samburu County.
During the event, held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the President interacted with beneficiaries and highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering young people through enterprise support.
Phase Two of the programme officially began on January 8, 2026, and targets youths across 27 counties. These include Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Nairobi, Kiambu, Samburu, and several others.
The phase is expected to run until January 16, 2026, after which the government has promised to announce timelines for Phase Three, which will cover the remaining 16 counties.
The NYOTA initiative was first launched on November 7, 2025, with the initial funds disbursed on December 7, 2025, during a ceremony held at Mumias Sports Complex in Kakamega County.
The programme aims to support youth-led businesses by providing both training and financial assistance.
Under the programme, each selected youth is expected to receive a total of Ksh50,000 as a business grant.
The money is released in stages, starting with Ksh25,000 after completion of training, followed by a second disbursement to top up the amount to Ksh50,000. The funds are intended to help young people start new businesses or expand existing ones.
By the time this story was published, the government had not issued an official response to the allegations of cartel involvement or addressed the complaints raised by the Turkana youths regarding delays and access challenges.
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