February 2026 — North Eastern Kenya hosted the NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital Disbursement Forums across Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir Counties. The forums brought together young entrepreneurs who had successfully completed mandatory business skills training and were transitioning into enterprise development with financial support, mentorship, and structured follow-up support. The events were presided over by H.E. William Ruto and attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, national government officials, and county leadership, underscoring the Government’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment and regional development.
At Garissa High School, youth drawn from all six constituencies; Garissa Township, Balambala, Dadaab, Fafi, Ijara, and Lagdera gathered for business capital disbursement a total of 2,194 youth received the start-up capital. Addressing the gathering, President Ruto emphasized that NYOTA is grounded in fairness, accountability, and opportunity, noting that the project seeks to enable young people to build businesses, create jobs, and participate meaningfully in the economy. He further highlighted the programme’s inclusivity, noting that refugees are eligible beneficiaries and pointing to complementary investments in documentation, irrigation, and water infrastructure aimed at strengthening livelihoods, enhancing food security, and positioning Northern Kenya as a key contributor to the national economy.
NYOTA Beneficiaries interact with H.E the President, Dr. William Ruto, during the disbursement in Wajir County.
Deputy President Kindiki underscored that NYOTA business capital is strictly intended for business development and improved livelihoods, adding that the Government is implementing complementary infrastructure and development initiatives to address region-specific challenges. Principal Secretary Susan Mangeni announced additional training targeting 2,500 refugees in Dadaab and 2,500 youth from host communities in Dadaab and Fafi, bringing the county’s total beneficiaries to 7,500, all of whom will receive mentorship and business monitoring support. Garissa Governor Hon. Nathif Jama Adam assured beneficiaries of county government support through a conducive business environment, including one-year waivers on business licenses, training, and assistance in developing viable business ideas.
MSEA Borad Directors Timothy Biwott and George Biwott receive H.E the President, Dr. William Ruto in Mandera County.
In Mandera County, the disbursement forum held at Mandera Stadium saw more than 2,500 young entrepreneurs receive grants after completing the mandatory NYOTA business training. President Ruto announced that youth in the county will receive KSh 62 million in grants to boost their enterprises, emphasizing that young people remain central to the country’s socio-economic transformation. He urged beneficiaries to invest prudently, expand their businesses, and create employment opportunities for fellow youth, noting that sustainable empowerment requires innovation, financial discipline, and collaboration.
Deputy President Kindiki highlighted the inclusivity of the project, noting that NYOTA targets vulnerable and underserved youth, including those who may not have pursued higher education, while recognizing skills and enterprise potential as powerful drivers of economic empowerment. He emphasized that the project extends beyond financial support by providing mentorship, market linkages, and ecosystem support to ensure youth-led businesses thrive beyond the initial funding phase.
H.E the President Dr. William Ruto, and the Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki engage the NYOTA Beneficiaries.
Wajir County marked the final stop in the first phase of the NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital Disbursement rollout, reaching 2,520 beneficiaries across 30 wards. The forum, hosted by Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, brought the first phase of disbursement to a close, contributing to a nationwide reach of over 100,000 youth. President Ruto reaffirmed that young people remain central to Kenya’s development agenda, noting that meaningful development cannot be achieved without placing youth at the center of economic planning and investment. He further observed that over KSh 2.5 billion in the national budget is dedicated to youth empowerment through education, job creation, and enterprise development, reflecting a deliberate and practical commitment to inclusive growth.
Beyond the financial support, beneficiaries across the region will receive structured follow-up support over the coming months to strengthen enterprise sustainability and growth. The forums are a coordinated national effort to expand opportunity, strengthen local enterprise ecosystems, and enable young people to drive economic resilience and transformation in historically underserved regions.
Kuza. Imarisha. Endeleza Vijana.
