As the NYOTA Business Development Services (BDS) entrepreneurship programme nears completion, the government has embarked on a fact-finding mission to evaluate the impact of the initiative in Kiambu County.
On Tuesday, Cooperatives and MSME’s Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya visited Kiambu training centers to review the programme’s progress, including assessing beneficiary participation.
Oparanya also toured the ACK Kiu River School, the site for eight training classes hosting over 200 young participants from four wards within the Kiambu Town Constituency.
The CS observed the training sessions and held discussions with participants and instructors, specifically commending the group for the high levels of enthusiasm and active participation demonstrated during the practical business skills instruction.
He urged the participants to apply their new skills, especially in business planning, financial literacy, and enterprise growth strategies to strengthen and expand their ventures.
He also praised the trainers for their effective facilitation, noting that the curriculum is highly responsive to the demands of today’s dynamic business environment.
The four-day NYOTA Business Skills Training aims to equip thousands of young people with practical entrepreneurship skills necessary to start, strengthen, and grow viable businesses.
Key topics within the curriculum include business planning, financial management, compliance, market readiness, and strategies for enterprise sustainability.
With the goal of empowering over 820,000 young people, NYOTA provides comprehensive support, including structured entrepreneurship training, certification, mentorship, and financial assistance.
The programme is designed to build the capacity of young entrepreneurs, expand economic opportunities, and foster self-reliance, ultimately positioning MSMEs as critical drivers of Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.
Marking a major milestone in its rollout, the Nyota Project began the final round of its Business Support classroom training last Wednesday.
The sessions, which conclude on Saturday, are taking place in constituency headquarters throughout 17 counties spanning Central Kenya, Nairobi, North Eastern, and the Coastal regions.
The current phase brings the total number of counties that have received Business Support training to 46.
The training planned for Elgeyo Marakwet County, however, will be scheduled later following disruptions caused by recent landslides.
The programme invited 42,735 youth beneficiaries to classroom sessions across 510 wards, adhering to the requirement of 70 participants per ward.
Selected trainees have been notified and must attend a minimum of three of the four training days to qualify for the disbursement of the business grant.
With all constituency training centers reportedly fully prepared, the disbursement of start-up capital is expected to commence following the training period.
All beneficiaries will then transition into a crucial two-month mentorship programme, guided by business development specialists and local entrepreneurs, to support their integration into community-level business networks.
By Hellen Lunalo
