Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Friday presided over the Garissa County Phase II disbursement of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme at the Garissa Regional Commissioner’s Residence, as part of a nationwide rollout conducted concurrently with the national launch officiated by President William Ruto at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
The county-level event saw more than 5,400 young entrepreneurs in Garissa County receive a major financial boost through business grants aimed at expanding enterprises, creating jobs and improving livelihoods.
The synchronised nationwide rollout reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that every part of the country benefits from opportunities created under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), reaffirming that historically marginalised regions remain central to Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.
In Garissa County, 5,405 beneficiaries received a total of KSh135.135 million during Phase II of the programme. Among them, 3,333 entrepreneurs received a second tranche of funding to grow their existing businesses, while 2,072 new beneficiaries received grants to begin their entrepreneurial journey.
The latest disbursement builds on the success of Phase I, during which 2,205 youth entrepreneurs in Garissa benefited from KSh55.125 million in business grants that helped establish and expand businesses across the county.
At the national level, the NYOTA Programme is scaling up after successfully supporting 121,800 youth entrepreneurs across all 47 counties during Phase I. The initiative is expected to reach more than 820,000 vulnerable and marginalised young people in all 1,450 wards nationwide. Under the current phase, more than 122,000 entrepreneurs are benefiting from business support worth over KSh3.05 billion.
Across the North Eastern region, 7,560 youth from Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties are benefiting from the programme, highlighting the Government’s commitment to unlocking the economic potential of young people through inclusive empowerment.
Beyond financial assistance, the NYOTA Programme provides entrepreneurship training, mentorship, business development support, market access and opportunities to participate in government procurement. It also promotes employability through skills training, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and workplace experience.
Beneficiaries who spoke during the event shared success stories of businesses that have expanded, jobs created and household incomes improved through the programme, demonstrating the transformative impact of investing in youth entrepreneurship.
Government officials said the continued expansion of the NYOTA Programme underscores Kenya’s commitment to empowering young people, strengthening small businesses and ensuring that every region shares in the country’s economic growth and development.
