NYOTA rolls out mentorship for 122,000 youth start-up beneficiaries
Key points
- Government began nationwide mentorship for more than 122,000 youth who received NYOTA start-up capital.
- Sessions from Monday 10 August 2026 span all 1,450 wards with 4,879 mentors; each mentor handles at most 20 mentees.
- Programme elements include site visits, peer mentorship, coaching, counselling and market linkages; blended financing products are being designed for catalytic funds.
- Related tracks: county licence-waiver frameworks, AGPO training next month for over 600,000 young entrepreneurs, and On-the-Job Experience socio-emotional skills work in 18 counties.
One hundred twenty-two thousand young business owners just got a mentor map: MSME Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni said mentorship under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project started on Monday, 10 August 2026, across all 1,450 wards, KBC reported.
More than 4,879 mentors — experienced business practitioners — are assigned so each handles no more than 20 mentees. Sessions cover business site visits, cross-peer mentorship, case experiences, coaching, counselling and market linkages. Government is also designing innovative and blended financing growth products so NYOTA beneficiaries can access enhanced financing from catalytic funds, following President William Ruto’s directive during last month’s capital disbursement.
Licences, AGPO and 18-county OJE track
Mang’eni’s statement said national and county governments are developing a framework for business licence waivers to help beneficiaries reach markets and trading spaces. Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) training is scheduled for next month, targeting more than 600,000 young entrepreneurs. Under On-the-Job Experience, Socio-Emotional Skills Development is ongoing in 18 counties including Isiolo, Marsabit, Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, Baringo, Nandi, West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Lamu, Mombasa, Kilifi, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir and Tana River, with a longer placement pathway after training.
Kenya-news desk: Kenya News. Verified headcounts, ward span, mentor ratio and county list from KBC/PS statement; survival rates of the funded micro-firms were not in the same release.
Youth will judge NYOTA when mentors show up in the ward and when licence waivers and AGPO slots become real invoices — not when the launch statement hits social media.
Based on KBC reporting of the MSME PS statement (Christine Muchira / KBC package, 10–11 August 2026). Programme metrics are official claims pending field verification.
