Government has commenced a nationwide mentorship programme for more than 122,000 youth who received start-up capital under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project.
The mentorship sessions, which began Monday, August 10, 2026, are being conducted across all 1,450 wards, with 4,879 mentors engaged to support the beneficiaries.
In a statement, the business support beneficiaries are now scheduled to commence mentorship sessions beginning this coming Monday, 10th August 2026
Over 4,879 mentors have been engaged across the country to undertake the exercise.
Every beneficiary is assigned a mentor, an experienced business practitioner who will handle no more than 20 mentees.
The mentorship session will include business site visits, cross-peer mentorship, business case experiences, coaching, counselling and market linkages.
Similarly, the government has embarked on the development of innovative and blended financing growth products targeting NYOTA business support beneficiaries to access enhanced financing from the government catalytic funds in line with President William Ruto’s directive of expanding access to financing to NYOTA beneficiaries made during the start-up capital disbursement last month.
“We are also working closely with the County Governments to develop a framework for implementing the business licence waivers to accord NYOTA beneficiaries access to markets and viable trading spaces,”the statement read.
At the same time, government is finalising preparations for the rollout of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) training component, scheduled for next month and targeting more than 600,000 young entrepreneurs to increase their uptake of government procurement opportunities.
Similarly, under the On-the-Job Experience (OJE) component, the Socio-Emotional Skills Development (SESD) is currently ongoing in 18 Counties: 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 successful completion of the Socio-Emotional Skills Development training, beneficiaries will transition into a five-month apprenticeship under experienced master craftsmen and Employers, where they will acquire practical, hands-on industry experience, receive mentorship and develop occupational skills that enhance their employability and prepare them for sustainable livelihoods.
The NYOTA business support beneficiaries are reminded that mentorship session completion is mandatory for their next level of support and are therefore urged to ensure maximum participation.
