NYOTA Business Grants: Second Tranche Pays KSh3.055 Billion to 122,136 Youth
By Kelvin Kibet | Updated October 9, 2026
The NYOTA Project reported that 122,136 young entrepreneurs across all 47 counties received its second business-support tranche in July 2026: KSh3,054,850,000 in total. The project said each beneficiary received KSh25,000 for the tranche, split between KSh22,000 deposited in a NYOTA Pochi la Biashara wallet and KSh3,000 placed in the NSSF Haba Haba savings scheme.
How the two-tranche support works
NYOTA’s official FAQ says successful business-support beneficiaries complete a four-day business training programme and receive KSh50,000 in start-up capital in two KSh25,000 instalments. The project says KSh3,000 from each instalment goes into Haba Haba savings, so the amount credited to the business wallet is lower than the headline tranche amount.
The first disbursement phase had earlier reported KSh2.586 billion reaching 131,800 young entrepreneurs. The second-tranche figures are a later programme update; the two recipient counts should not be added together as a count of unique beneficiaries because the tranche can reach the same participants at different stages.
What beneficiaries can do with the support
The project describes the grant as support to start or expand a small business. Beneficiaries can make the funding more useful by listing planned purchases, keeping receipts, recording sales and expenses, and separating business transactions from household spending. Those simple records help show whether the business is covering its costs and whether stock or equipment is generating sales.
NYOTA also says mentorship and business-development services accompany the grant. Beneficiaries should follow official messages for any remaining programme steps, support sessions or account corrections.
Separate update: On-the-Job Experience training
The On-the-Job Experience (OJE) intervention is separate from the business grant. NYOTA reported that 106,113 OJE participants completed a 20-day socio-emotional skills course across all 47 counties by September 2026. The project said participants in Lots 1 and 2 had started five-month apprenticeships, followed by competency assessments through the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA). Different groups were at different stages, so the training figure is not a count of apprenticeships or jobs completed.
County business-permit direction
During the second-tranche announcement, the President directed county governments to develop a two-year business-permit waiver for NYOTA beneficiaries and prioritise market spaces for them. Beneficiaries should confirm the current arrangement with their county before relying on a waiver or planning a market stall, because a national announcement does not confirm how each county has implemented it.
How to check a message or application
- NYOTA says participation is free; do not pay an agent or fee to be selected or receive funds.
- Use the official NYOTA website and its published channels. The project identifies *254# as its official USSD service code and says beneficiaries receive official SMS instructions.
- For questions about business support, NYOTA directs beneficiaries to the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) at 0700 666 000 or to a county MSEA office.
- The project says additional application windows may be announced through official channels. Check for a current notice before assuming applications are open.
