Ministry Announces Fresh Date for Youths to Receive KSh25,000 NYOTA Support

The Ministry of Cooperatives has now confirmed a new date for the release of the second batch of KSh25,000 meant for young beneficiaries under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.

The update comes as the government moves to speed up the next stage of the youth empowerment initiative, which has already transformed thousands of small businesses across Kenya.

Speaking during an interview on TV47 on Tuesday, April 14, Cooperatives Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni said the second round of disbursement will officially begin next week. She explained that the exercise is now fully ready for rollout after the ministry completed preparations, including mentorship and beneficiary readiness checks.

According to Mang’eni, the nationwide distribution under the KSh33 billion programme will begin on Monday, April 20, 2026. Unlike the earlier rollout, which was done in phases across selected areas, this second round will happen simultaneously in different parts of the country. This means beneficiaries from various counties are expected to receive support at the same time, making the process faster and more efficient.

Mang’eni said the government has put all systems in place to ensure the exercise runs smoothly. She noted that all selected youths have already gone through the required mentorship sessions, which are meant to help them use the funds wisely and build sustainable businesses.

This preparation stage is seen as a key part of ensuring the money has long-term impact rather than short-term use.

She further added that the ministry has already deployed business development experts across the country. These experts will be responsible for conducting practical training sessions tied to the second phase of the disbursement.

The training is expected to guide beneficiaries on business planning, record keeping, market expansion, and financial discipline so that the grants can lead to real growth.

The PS also disclosed that by Sunday, April 19, every successful beneficiary will have received an official notification message inviting them to take part in the second phase.

The communication is expected to include important details such as reporting points, timelines, and the next steps each beneficiary should follow before receiving the money.

In addition, the government is working on ways to include youths who were left out in the first phase. Mang’eni said the President has already recognised the programme as a successful model and is now engaging development partners for extra financial support.

The aim is to make sure more deserving applicants who missed the earlier rollout are absorbed into the ongoing programme.

NYOTA is a major five-year government transformation programme funded by the World Bank, designed to tackle youth unemployment, unstable incomes, and poor saving culture among young people.

The programme focuses on giving vulnerable youth a practical chance to start or expand small businesses while also encouraging a culture of long-term savings.

Reports show that about 101,721 young Kenyans benefited during the first nationwide disbursement, with many already reporting positive changes in their businesses and livelihoods.

Some beneficiaries have expanded stock, hired workers, and opened new market channels after receiving the support.

Under the NYOTA business support package, each youth beneficiary receives KSh22,000 as direct business capital, while KSh3,000 is deposited into the NSSF Haba Haba savings scheme.

This savings portion is meant to help young people build financial security even as they grow their enterprises.

To further improve the success rate of the initiative, county governments recently introduced a two-year waiver on business licence fees for NYOTA beneficiaries. This move is expected to reduce operational costs for startups and allow more youths to channel resources directly into growing their businesses.

On-the-Job Experience (OJE) Programme

Apart from the KSh25,000 enterprise support, the government is also scaling up the On-the-Job Experience (OJE) intervention under NYOTA.

This separate programme is set to roll out in several parts of the country and will target 14,000 beneficiaries in the current phase.

Under OJE, participants will first undergo mandatory Social Emotional Skills Development (SESD) training.

The sessions are designed to equip young people with workplace behaviour skills, communication abilities, discipline, teamwork, and emotional intelligence needed in modern job environments.

Those selected for the OJE programme will receive a monthly stipend of KSh6,000 for six months while attached to the project. Part of this amount will also be channelled into their Haba Haba savings accounts, helping them build a savings habit even as they gain work experience.

Overall, the second NYOTA rollout is expected to bring fresh hope to thousands of Kenyan youths who are seeking capital, practical skills, and stable income opportunities.

With the simultaneous nationwide launch, additional expert training, and expanded inclusion plans, the programme continues to position itself as one of the government’s biggest youth economic empowerment initiatives in recent years.

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