More than 122,000 young entrepreneurs who received start-up capital under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project are set to begin a mentorship programme aimed at strengthening their businesses and improving their chances of sustainable growth.
The mentorship program began on Monday, with more than 4,879 mentors engaged across the country to support the beneficiaries.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSMEs Development Susan Mang’eni said each beneficiary will be assigned a mentor with experience in business practice, with each mentor handling a maximum of 20 mentees.
The mentorship will include business site visits, peer-to-peer mentorship, business case experiences, coaching, counselling, and market linkages.
The programme is part of the government’s wider efforts to promote youth self-employment through skills development and access to start-up capital.
The NYOTA Project, which was rolled out in March 2025, uses a digital technology platform to facilitate access to opportunities for young people across the country.
On July 10, 2026, the government disbursed start-up capital to more than 122,000 Business Support beneficiaries, providing them with resources to establish and expand their enterprises.
The project draws beneficiaries from all 1,450 wards in Kenya, targeting young people at the bottom of the economic pyramid and seeking to improve their access to economic opportunities.
The government is also developing innovative and blended financing products to enable NYOTA business support beneficiaries to access additional financing through government catalytic funds.
The initiative follows President William Ruto’s directive to expand access to financing for NYOTA beneficiaries issued during the start-up capital disbursement last month.
The State Department is further working with county governments to develop a framework for implementing business license waivers for NYOTA beneficiaries, with the aim of improving their access to markets and viable trading spaces.
Another component of the programme, the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) training, is expected to be rolled out next month.
The training targets more than 600,000 young entrepreneurs and is intended to equip them with knowledge and skills to increase their uptake of government procurement opportunities.
Meanwhile, the On-the-Job Experience (OJE) component of NYOTA is already being implemented in 18 counties, where beneficiaries are undergoing Socio-Emotional Skills Development (SESD) training.
The counties are Isiolo, Marsabit, Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, Baringo, Nandi, West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Lamu, Mombasa, Kilifi, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, and Tana River.
Upon completion of the SESD training, beneficiaries will proceed to a five-month apprenticeship programme under experienced master craftsmen and employers.
The apprenticeship will provide participants with hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and occupational skills intended to enhance their employability and prepare them for sustainable livelihoods.
Mang’eni urged NYOTA business support beneficiaries to participate fully in the mentorship sessions, noting that successful completion is a mandatory requirement for progression to the next level of support.
The mentorship programme therefore marks another phase in the government’s effort to move NYOTA beneficiaries beyond initial financial support by providing them with the business knowledge, networks, and practical guidance needed to build sustainable enterprises.
By Nancy Omondi
