More than 5,000 young entrepreneurs from Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties have received a total of Sh143 million in the second tranche of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Business Startup Capital, with beneficiaries pledging to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The transformative government programme is designed to tackle youth unemployment through practical, inclusive and result-oriented interventions. The project is financed by the World Bank and implemented through a multi-agency approach.
In the first tranche, disbursed in February, Sh147 million was allocated to youth from the three coastal counties.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya presided over the disbursement ceremony at the ASK Showground in Mombasa, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to youth empowerment.
Mvurya said the youth are a critical pillar in the country’s ambition to attain first-world status. He noted that 90,000 young people will benefit from the On-the-Job Experience (OJE) component of the NYOTA programme.
“Youth with skills but lacking certificates will benefit from the Recognition of Prior Learning,” he said.
The CS further cited the Kazi Majuu and NYOTA programmes as evidence of the government’s commitment to empowering young people.
“The President has an elaborate plan for youth empowerment. Others are using the youth to cause chaos and protests, but one of the government’s key plans is to empower them to improve their livelihoods,” said Mvurya.
He added that the President has ensured the inclusion of all communities in his administration, citing the appointment of two Cabinet Secretaries, six Principal Secretaries and several Coast region representatives to parastatal boards.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Transport Mohamed Daghar said the government had fulfilled its promises to the youth, noting that beneficiaries from the first phase would proceed to the next phase of the programme.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the Council of Governors would hold a special meeting to consider waiving business license fees for NYOTA beneficiaries for three years.
“We have invested in the biggest asset that this country has, which is the youth,” said Governor Nassir, lauding the NYOTA programme for promoting equity.
Governor Nassir said the programme comes at a time when many young people have been polarised by negative politics, adding that it has taken the President’s leadership to steer government efforts towards uplifting the youth.
Ecstatic beneficiaries said they would use the second disbursement of Sh25,000 to expand their businesses after successfully investing the first allocation.
During the initial phase, each beneficiary received Sh25,000, of which Sh3,000 was remitted to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Haba na Haba Savings Account to encourage a savings culture, while the remaining Sh22,000 was credited to their Pochi la Biashara accounts.
Before receiving the funds, beneficiaries underwent a mandatory four-day business skills training and mentorship programme that equipped them with practical knowledge to establish and grow sustainable enterprises.
Joyce Mwakangulu from Taita Taveta said she used the first disbursement to diversify her business from selling perfumes to stocking ladies’ shoes and now plans to expand further.
“With this second tranche, I will increase my stock and purchase two goats,” she said, urging other young people to apply for the NYOTA fund instead of complaining about unemployment.
Meanwhile, Clinton Mwitiku, a person living with a disability from Diani in Kwale County, said he used his first NYOTA capital to establish a beadwork business.
“I will boost my business and improve my life as an individual. Those living with disabilities should apply for the funds,” said Mwitiku.
By Sadik Hassan