The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project is a Government of Kenya initiative funded by the World Bank to improve employment opportunities and increase earnings for vulnerable youth aged 18–29 years, and up to 35 years for youth with disabilities.
The NYOTA project targets vulnerable youth who meet the following criteria:
- Age: 18-29 years (up to 35 for Persons with Disabilities).
- Education: Form 4 level of education or below.
- Employment Status: Unemployed, underemployed, or in low-income jobs.
The application window is currently CLOSED. We encourage you to keep following our official pages, where we will share updates once a new application window opens.
Applicants should wait for official communication regarding future application opportunities.
No. NYOTA Business Support is non-transferable. Only the selected beneficiaries can participate in the project and receive business support.
The Project is designed so that beneficiaries first complete Business Development Services (BDS) 1 before receiving the first tranche of the Business Start-up Capital. Thereafter, beneficiaries are required to complete two mentorship sessions and attend BDS 2 before qualifying to receive the second tranche.
To qualify for Tranche 2, you must have participated in the mentorship sessions and attended the BDS 2 training. If you have met both requirements, kindly be patient as your case is being processed.
If you are experiencing challenges accessing your NYOTA Business Start-up Capital, kindly INBOX (on our social media channels or call us) with your National ID number and the registered phone number used during your NYOTA application for follow-up.
It was not deducted. KSh 3,000 is deposited into your NSSF Haba Haba savings account to help you build long-term social security savings.
The KSh 3,000 was deducted because you withdrew the savings from Tranche 1. The deduction was made to restore your savings in the Haba Haba savings account.
The savings intervention is designed to cultivate a culture of saving while helping you build a financial cushion for your business. We encourage you to continue saving, as it will support the long-term growth and sustainability of your business.
The savings component of the NYOTA Project is implemented and managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). For assistance regarding your Haba Haba account, savings, balances, contributions, or any related matters, kindly contact NSSF through its official channels or reach them directly via +254 709 583000 / 0730 882000.
After receiving Tranche 1, beneficiaries are required to participate in 2 mentorship sessions followed by Business Development Services (BDS) II training. Attendance at both is mandatory. All announcements and updates will be shared through our official social media platforms.
Yes. Mentorship is a mandatory intervention of the NYOTA Business Support.
Beneficiaries receive guidance on business management, financial literacy, record keeping marketing, customer care, business growth and access to markets and financial linkages.
No. There is no stipend provided for participating in mentorship.
You will be assigned a mentor based on the location where you operate your business. Participation in the mentorship sessions is mandatory.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to invest in the business they identified during training. Any significant changes should be discussed with trainers or mentors.
We are actively engaging with county governments to follow up on their commitment to waive business license and permit fees for NYOTA beneficiaries for the agreed period. Meanwhile, you are advised to visit the nearest MSEA county office for assistance. Please click the link below to find the location of the MSEA office nearest to you.
No. The NYOTA Project is completely FREE. Never pay anyone to either register you, enroll you, receive training, access business capital or receive mentorship.
Please note that the NYOTA Project does not require beneficiaries to make any payments at any stage of the programme. Any person requesting money while claiming to represent the Project is acting fraudulently.
Report any suspected fraud immediately through your nearest MSEA County Office, MSEA official communication channels, NYOTA official social media pages.
For accurate information, visit MSEA official website and social media platforms, NYOTA official social media platforms and your nearest MSEA county office. Avoid relying on unofficial sources.
Always follow the official MSEA media platforms and website and the official NYOTA social media pages. Official updates are also communicated through SMS sent to your registered phone number. Please note that all official SMS notifications from the Project are sent under the sender’s name NYOTA.
For assistance, contact MSEA through its official communication channels or please contact the toll-free number: +254 770 666000 or visit your nearest MSEA County Office. Please click the link below to find the location of the MSEA office nearest to you.
https://msea.go.ke/msea-county-offices/
