The government has clarified that the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) app, which has been circulating online and allegedly charges Kenyans KSh 165 to qualify for loans, is not authorized.
The clarification comes after X user Kassim Obede raised concerns about the app, sharing screenshots instructing users to make payments via M-Pesa to qualify for loans.
“There is a Nyota app making rounds. The final requirement is paying Ksh 165 to a till in order to qualify for a loan. Kindly address this. Is the app legit?” he posed while tagging NYOTA and World Bank Kenya.
NYOTA Denies Running an App Charging Kenyans KSh165 for a Loan
In the screenshot shared, the fraudulent app stated that the Ksh 165 charged is a commitment fee.
It also claimed that the commitment fee will be refunded once the applicant’s loan has been processed successfully.
Also Read: Ruto Issues Orders on NYOTA Funds as Select Youth Receive Ksh25,000 Instantly
“Commitment: Dear Customer, Our company is committed to serving our customers based on trust and loyalty. For that reason, it requires you to pay a customer commitment fee of Ksh 165 to Till number: 5622290, Till name: Phonex Ventures,” the message read from the fake app.
“To avoid delays, enter the correct M-Pesa message in the space below.”
The message also stated that, based on the recipient’s M-Pesa transaction history, their loan level was “GOLD,” qualifying them for loans of up to Ksh 100,000.
“For this first-time application, we will offer you a loan of up to Ksh 50,000 instantly,” the message read, adding that borrowers must honor repayment dates to reach the “DIAMOND” level, described as the highest loan tier.
In response, NYOTA issued a statement on Sunday, November 9, warning the public against using the app, emphasizing that it is not officially linked to the project.
It confirmed that it is not operating any app and urged Kenyans to be cautious, warning that any platforms claiming to offer loans on its behalf are fraudulent.
“The project is not running any app. We caution youth from such app meant to scam them,” NYOTA said.
Also Read: Ruto Sets Record Straight on Kenyans Refunding NYOTA Money
Western Youth Beneficiaries Receive Ksh 25K Each
The clarification follows President William Ruto’s official launch of the NYOTA Project on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Kakamega County.
The launch coincided with the first round of business grant disbursements, during which over 12,000 youth received Ksh 25,000 each, totaling Ksh 267 million.
A total of 12,155 successful project applicants for both the Business Support and On-the-Job Experience components, drawn from four Western Kenya counties—Bungoma, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Busia—received notifications through the official NYOTA Project messaging channel immediately following President Ruto’s launch of the project.
“Dear beneficiary, you have successfully unlocked your start-up capital cash. Ksh22,000 has been sent to your Pochi la Biashara wallet. Ksh3,000 will be sent to your Ziidi account,” the notifications read.
At the same time, the head of State announced that the government will cover refunds for the NYOTA Programme, which is funded by the World Bank.
“This money is a loan we took from the World Bank. As the government, we will repay it, but we are giving it to you to help you grow your businesses; you will not repay it. So, you must use it wisely because it is meant to help you uplift yourselves,” said Ruto.
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