Speaking during the disbursement of start-up capital to youth from Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties, the President said the government remains focused on supporting entrepreneurship and job creation.
A total of 5,901 young people from the three counties benefited from the latest phase of the programme.
President Ruto said the funds are meant to help youth start or grow small businesses and become financially independent.
Under the NYOTA Programme, each beneficiary receives KSh 50,000 in two phases. In the first phase, KSh 22,000 is sent directly to Pochi la Biashara to support daily business operations.
An additional KSh 3,000 is deposited into the National Social Security Fund’s Haba na Haba savings account to encourage a culture of saving.
The remaining KSh 25,000 is released in the second phase once beneficiaries meet set requirements.
The President noted that the approach ensures accountability while helping young people manage money responsibly.
He said saving, even in small amounts, is key to long-term financial stability.
So far, the government has disbursed KSh 1.2 billion to 48,376 youth across 26 counties.
The programme is now being rolled out nationwide, with more young people expected to benefit in the coming months.
NYOTA is a KSh 20 billion programme targeting 820,000 youth over five years. Beyond funding, it offers training, mentorship, and certification to help young entrepreneurs succeed.
The programme aims to support 110,000 youth-led businesses and place 90,000 young people in paid work experience opportunities.