The government has today begun a nationwide validation exercise for the business support component of the Kshs. 20 billion NYOTA Programme, marking a major step in its plan to empower young entrepreneurs across the country. The exercise is being conducted simultaneously in all constituencies and aims to verify the authenticity and eligibility of applicants before disbursing the funds.
According to Fikirini Jacobs, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, the exercise targets to generate a final and verifiable list of 100,000 youth beneficiaries who will receive start-up grants to grow their businesses. He explained that the process is designed to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection of beneficiaries.
“The main objective is to verify the authenticity and eligibility of applicants to generate a final, definitive list of 100,000 youth beneficiaries for the Business Support grant,” Jacobs stated, adding that the government is determined to make the process data-driven and credible.
The business support grant, which forms the first phase of the broader NYOTA Programme, is valued at Kshs. 5 billion, with each successful applicant set to receive Kshs. 50,000 to start or expand their entrepreneurial ventures. The other components of the programme, which include training, innovation support, and creative enterprise funding, will be rolled out once the business support grants are finalized.
Jacobs revealed that today’s validation targets pre-selected youth who had earlier received official messages of invitation to participate. These individuals are required to attend the exercise in person at officially designated venues within their constituencies. To be validated, applicants must carry their original national identification cards or National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) cards.
He further noted that the data collected from the physical validation will be analyzed together with results from the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT). This combined data will produce a system-generated, verifiable list of the final beneficiaries, which is expected to be ready by next week.
Jacobs emphasized that the validation process is critical in safeguarding public funds and ensuring the grants reach deserving youth. He said the NYOTA Programme remains one of the most ambitious youth empowerment initiatives by the government, designed to nurture entrepreneurship, boost innovation, and create sustainable livelihoods for Kenya’s young population.
