122,000 Kenyans to receive Ksh25,000 each as Ruto launches Ksh3B Nyota fund
By Mustafa Juma, July 6, 2026President William Ruto is set to launch the second phase of the government’s Nyota Project Business Support Component, with 122,000 beneficiaries across the country expected to receive Ksh25,000 each under a Ksh3 billion disbursement aimed at boosting youth-owned enterprises.
Taking to his official X account on Monday, July 6, 2026, the president announced the upcoming rollout after receiving a briefing at State House, Nairobi, on the progress of the programme, which is implemented by the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
According to Ruto, the nationwide launch of the second tranche will take place on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 18 venues across the country, bringing together beneficiaries from all 47 counties.
“Briefed on the progress of the Government’s Nyota Programme business support component, State House Nairobi, ahead of the launch of the second disbursement on Friday,” the President said.
He noted that the government had allocated Ksh3 billion for the latest round of funding.
“With the launch of the Ksh3 billion second tranche of the business support component for the 122,000 beneficiaries, each beneficiary will receive Ksh25,000. In addition to a similar amount they had received earlier in the year, each beneficiary will have received a total of Ksh50,000,” Ruto stated.
Ruto added that beneficiaries had already completed mandatory business development training before qualifying for the second disbursement.
“Already, the beneficiaries have undergone a business development skills programme,” he stated.
Nationwide rollout
The president said the simultaneous launch across 18 venues marks a shift from the phased disbursement model used during the initial rollout.
“On Friday, the launch will take place in 18 venues across the country, bringing together all the beneficiaries from the 47 counties.”
The government says the programme is intended to help young entrepreneurs establish and expand businesses by combining financial support with entrepreneurship training and mentorship.
What is the Nyota Project?
The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project is a government initiative implemented with support from the World Bank to improve employment and income opportunities for vulnerable young Kenyans.
Its Business Support Component targets youth with viable business ideas by providing three key interventions: entrepreneurship training, start-up capital and structured mentorship.
The project seeks to empower more than 100,000 youth drawn from all 1,450 wards across the country.
Under the programme, beneficiaries first undergo mandatory business skills training before receiving start-up capital. They are then attached to mentors who guide them through the early stages of establishing and growing their enterprises.
First tranche and mentorship
The first disbursement began in late 2025 and was rolled out in phases across different regions.
Each beneficiary initially received Ksh25,000, with Ksh22,000 deposited into a business wallet while Ksh3,000 was channelled into the National Social Security Fund’s Haba Haba Savings Scheme to encourage a savings culture.
Following the first disbursement, beneficiaries participated in nationwide mentorship programmes involving business experts and entrepreneurs.
According to the State Department for MSMEs, over 94 per cent of beneficiaries completed the mentorship programme, while about 99 per cent had already established businesses by the end of the exercise.
The government subsequently rolled out a second round of mandatory classroom-based business development training to address skill gaps identified during mentorship, making successful completion a requirement for receiving the second tranche.
Delay before second disbursement
The release of the second tranche had initially been expected by the end of June but was delayed as the government finalised funding arrangements.
In June, the State Department for MSMEs attributed the delay to budgetary adjustments after deciding to conduct the second disbursement simultaneously for all beneficiaries instead of staggering payments by region. The ministry later assured beneficiaries that the funds would be released once preparations were complete.
Youth empowerment agenda
The Nyota Project forms part of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s broader strategy to tackle youth unemployment by supporting entrepreneurship and small businesses.
Government officials have maintained that combining financial grants with business training and mentorship increases the chances of beneficiaries establishing sustainable enterprises capable of creating jobs and generating income.
With the second tranche now set for release, each of the 122,000 beneficiaries will have received a total of Ksh50,000 in business support under the programme, alongside entrepreneurship training and mentorship designed to improve the survival and growth of their businesses.