CS Oparanya Reveals Next Steps After Over 1.4 Million Youths Apply for Govt’s Ksh50,000 Grant
The government has confirmed that it has received more than 1.4 million applications from young Kenyans eager to benefit from the Ksh50,000 business support grant offered under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
The NYOTA initiative is a five-year youth empowerment project supported by the World Bank. It seeks to address the challenges facing the youth, such as joblessness, unstable income, and limited savings opportunities, by giving them seed capital, training, and mentorship.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Trade Committee, Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya gave a detailed progress report on how the government is rolling out the multi-billion-shilling programme.
According to Oparanya, *applications were made through the USSD code 254# earlier this year, and from the total pool, 180,000 applicants have already been shortlisted. Each successful applicant will receive Ksh50,000 in two instalments of Ksh25,000, as well as access to Business Development Services (BDS) which include training sessions and mentorship opportunities to help them manage and grow their businesses.
“Out of the over 1.4 million young people who applied, 180,000 have been shortlisted through a fair and transparent randomisation process. These applicants are now taking an online aptitude test before the final selection is made,” Oparanya explained to the committee.
The CS revealed that the shortlisted group is diverse, with 46 percent being women and 26,000 applicants living with disabilities. He assured lawmakers that the government is committed to ensuring inclusivity and fairness in how the programme is implemented.
Oparanya further confirmed that the official launch of the NYOTA programme has been scheduled for September 18, 2025.
Even so, some MPs raised concerns about the slow pace of the programme’s implementation and questioned some of the requirements set for young people before they can access the grant. In response, Oparanya clarified that the project is being implemented in phases to ensure efficiency and accountability.
The first phase will benefit 54,000 young people, who will be part of the first cohort immediately after the launch. The remaining shortlisted applicants will be considered in two more phases to follow.
This announcement comes shortly after President William Ruto revealed that the government had already released Ksh5 billion for the project. According to the President, the funds will be distributed to 70 young people in every ward across the country, strictly to those registered under the NYOTA programme.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on August 9, during another youth empowerment event, the President reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that young people have access to opportunities that can help them build sustainable businesses.
“I have said that beginning next month, in partnership with the World Bank, we have agreed that youths in every ward will receive business support. Seventy youths in each ward will each get Ksh50,000 to start their businesses,” President Ruto stated.
The update is a major boost to the millions of Kenyan youths who applied for the funds, as it outlines the government’s clear plan to begin disbursement and roll out training programmes meant to help them succeed in entrepreneurship.
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