The government has announced that it has received over 1.4 million applications from Kenyan youths seeking the Ksh50,000 grant under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
NYOTA, a five-year initiative funded by the World Bank, is designed to empower young people by tackling unemployment, income insecurity, and low savings.
Appearing before the National Assembly's Trade Committee, Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya updated lawmakers on the progress of the multi-billion-shilling programme.
He disclosed that over 1.4 million applications had been submitted through the USSD *254# platform earlier this year, with 180,000 applicants already shortlisted.
He explained that each successful applicant would receive Ksh50,000, disbursed in two instalments of Ksh25,000, alongside Business Development Services (BDS) training and mentorship.
"180,000 applicants have been shortlisted through a fair randomisation process and are currently undertaking an online aptitude test before final selection," Oparanya told the legislators.
According to the Cooperatives CS, 46 per cent of the 180,000 shortlisted candidates are women, while 26,000 are people with disabilities.
Oparanya went ahead to assure the committee of the government's intention to officially launch the programme on September 18, 2025.
However, the committee members expressed concern about the slow implementation of the multi-billion shilling youth empowerment project. They also raised issues with some of the requirements set for youths before they can access the funds.
In response, the CS noted that the programme was being rolled out in phases, with the first phase set to benefit a first cohort of 54,000 of the selected applicants immediately after the project launches, followed by two additional cohorts.
The latest update comes barely a fortnight after President William Ruto revealed that the government had already released the Ksh5 billion to be distributed to 70 youths in each ward across the country.
Speaking during an empowerment programme on August 9, at State House in Nairobi, the President noted that the money would be strictly disbursed to Kenyans registered under the NYOTA programme.
“I have said that, beginning next month, we have agreed with the World Bank that youths in each ward will receive business support. Seventy youths in each ward will receive Ksh50,000 to start their businesses,” Ruto announced.
