The Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development has issued a notice to the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program regarding training.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 13, the Ministry announced that it will conduct Business Development Skills (BDS) training for selected beneficiaries over four days, from Friday, November 14, to Monday, November 17.
The Ministry noted that those selected will receive official SMS notifications indicating the venue of their training.
Beneficiaries must attend the training to qualify for the Ksh 50,000 grant, which will enable them to run a startup business.
“NYOTA Project will be in these counties this week conducting Business Development Skills (BDS) Training for the selected beneficiaries,” read the notice in part.
“Attendance of the BDS training is mandatory for all selected beneficiaries to qualify for the next step — receiving business capital support under the NYOTA Project.”
Govt Announces Training Dates for NYOTA Beneficiaries in 25 Counties
According to the Ministry, the training sessions will be held in the following areas:
Lower Eastern: Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni
North Rift: Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, and Laikipia
Upper Eastern: Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, and Isiolo
South Rift & Maa: Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, and Nandi
Nyanza & South Rift: Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, and Bomet.
Also Read: Ruto Sets Record Straight on Kenyans Refunding NYOTA Money
Western Kenya Youth Receive First Tranche of Ksh50,000 Grant
President Ruto officially launched the NYOTA Project on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Kakamega County, where the first round of business grant disbursements saw over 12,000 youth receive Ksh 25,000 each, amounting to a total of 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 after the project was launched.
“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.
Meanwhile, the Head of State, while speaking at the 25th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 11, announced that the government will begin disbursing a further Ksh4.4 billion to NYOTA grantees from next week.
“Next week, we will disburse another Ksh4.4 billion to the people who will have been trained and identified,” he said.
Also Read: Govt Clarifies NYOTA App Charging Kenyans Ksh 165 for Loan Eligibility
About the NYOTA Program
The NYOTA project is a government initiative, funded by the World Bank, designed to empower vulnerable youth by creating employment opportunities, enhancing their income, and promoting a savings culture.
The program aims to empower 800,000 vulnerable youths aged 18 to 29 across all 47 counties by establishing 110,000 youth-led enterprises and certifying 20,000 artisans through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative.
It also aims to skill and connect 90,000 youths to employment, while training 600,000 on financial literacy and access to government procurement opportunities.
Through Component 2, implemented by the State Department for MSME Development via the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), the project will provide entrepreneurship training, business development services, and phased start-up capital to 70 youth in every ward.
After classroom training, each youth will undergo two months of mentorship and incubation support, followed by staged seed money, with continued guidance from business development experts to foster their enterprise growth.
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Greetings, this is a very good initiative. However, on days when BDS training is scheduled, I question why it is set for weekends instead of weekdays. This arrangement effectively alienates our youth from worshiping God. Friday is a day of worship for Muslims, Saturday is for Sabbath observers, and Sunday is also a day of worship for Christians.
Spirituality and the worship of God should not be intertwined with money-making activities. I believe it would be better to conduct training sessions from Monday to Thursday, leaving Friday through Sunday available for worship.
As a nation that values and constitutionally recognizes days of worship, why take this opportunity away from our youth?