A total of 5,040 youth drawn from all 60 wards in Mandera and Wajir Counties have received Ksh 126 million in NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital Grants in ceremonies presided over by President William Ruto at Mandera Stadium and Wajir Stadium, respectively.
In this first phase of funding, each beneficiary is receiving Ksh 25,000. Of this amount, KSh 22,000 is credited directly to the beneficiary’s Pochi la Biashara mobile wallet to support immediate business start-up needs. At the same time, Ksh 3,000 is invested in a Haba na Haba Savings Account managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to promote a culture of savings and long-term financial security.
In the second phase of the disbursement, each beneficiary will receive an additional Ksh 25,000, bringing the total start-up capital investment to Ksh 50,000 per youth entrepreneur.
In Mandera County, 2,520 young entrepreneurs from all 30 wards received Ksh 63 million at a ceremony held at Mandera Stadium. Similarly, in Wajir County, 2,520 youth, drawn from 30 wards, received Ksh 63 million at the Wajir Stadium event.
Speaking during the Wajir disbursement ceremony, President William Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s firm commitment to prioritising youth empowerment and engagement.
“We are spending a significant portion of our national budget to empower the youth through education, job creation and enterprise development,” the President stated.
The President further noted that youth empowerment had not previously received the priority it deserved, contributing to slower economic growth.
He emphasised that this trend has now been reversed through deliberate and strategic investments in programmes such as the NYOTA Project, Affordable Housing, Digital Jobs, the Kazi Majuu (Labour Export) Program, and enhanced recruitment across Government.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki highlighted ongoing investments in road infrastructure across the North Eastern region, noting that improved connectivity will unlock economic potential, ease the movement of goods and services, and enable local enterprises to thrive.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, confirmed that all NYOTA beneficiaries will enjoy support from the ministry to ensure that their businesses succeed.
On his part, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, urged young people to apply for the Government’s On-the-Job Experience Program via *254#, noting that over 880,000 youth have already submitted applications ahead of the extended deadline of Friday, 13th February 2026.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, underscored the Government’s commitment to equitable national development without discrimination, terming it a key pillar of national unity. Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Alfred Mutua, emphasised that the Kazi Majuu Programme connects Kenyan youth to legitimate employment opportunities abroad and urged applicants to verify that all recruitment agents are licensed by the National Employment Authority.
Principal Secretary, State Department for MSMEs Development, Hon. Susan Mang’eni, confirmed that all beneficiaries have undergone business training before disbursement and will continue receiving mentorship support to ensure their enterprises remain viable and sustainable.
Wajir County Governor, Ahmed Abdullahi, commended the NYOTA Project as a transformative initiative that affirms the critical role of enterprise in job creation and wealth generation. Further, the County Government will waive business licenses for the Nyota entrepreneurs.
The start-up capital disbursement events in Mandera and Wajir mark the conclusion of Phase One of the nationwide NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital component. Similar disbursement ceremonies have previously been held in Kakamega (Western region), Eldoret (North Rift), Nakuru (South Rift), Nyeri (Central), Machakos (Lower Eastern), Nairobi (Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado), Meru (Upper Eastern), Malindi (Upper Coast), Mombasa (Lower Coast) and Garissa.
