NYOTA PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
BUSINESS SUPPORT
The Business Support intervention, implemented by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), seeks to empower youth with the skills, business capital, and mentorship needed to start and grow sustainable enterprises.
To date, 124,850 youth from all 47 counties have successfully completed business skills training, practical skills in business planning, financial management, record keeping, customer relations, marketing, and enterprise growth.
Following the training, 91,251 youth have received business start-up capital amounting to over KSh 2 billion, enabling them to establish and expand businesses across sectors such as agriculture, retail trade, fashion and design, beauty services, manufacturing, ICT, and hospitality.
They have also completed structured business mentorship, receiving personalized guidance from experienced business development professionals. Monitoring findings indicate that 88 per cent of supported enterprises are fully operational, highlighting the positive impact of the intervention on youth entrepreneurship.
In addition, beneficiaries continue to receive market linkage support, business coaching, and networking opportunities aimed at strengthening enterprise growth, improving market access, and enhancing long-term business success.
RESULTS-BASED FINANCING (RBF) WITH SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
Under the Results-Based Financing (RBF) intervention, MSEA is partnering with social enterprises to reach vulnerable and hard-to-serve youth through innovative entrepreneurship models.
The pilot phase is scheduled to commence during the 2026/27 Financial Year and is expected to benefit an initial cohort of youth entrepreneurs, paving the way for the programme’s scale-up to 10,000 beneficiaries.
ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE (OJE)
The On-the-Job Experience intervention provides youth with practical workplace exposure through apprenticeships and internships while strengthening their employability through socio-emotional and work-readiness training.
Following the application and selection process, social emotional skills training and placement of successful applicants is ongoing across the country with employers across various sectors of the economy, providing opportunities for hands-on learning and transition into productive employment.
LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEMS (KLMIS)
The State Department for Labour and Skills Development continues to strengthen labour market intelligence through the Kenya Labour Market Information System (KLMIS). The platform provides real-time labour market information to support evidence-based decision-making by youth, training institutions, employers, and policymakers.
Through KLMIS, young people can access information on emerging sectors, skills demand, employment trends, earnings, and business opportunities, enabling them to make informed choices on employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development pathways.
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)
The Recognition of Prior Learning intervention enables youth to obtain formal certification for skills acquired through work experience, apprenticeship, and informal learning.
Ongoing activities include applicant sensitization, competency assessments, documentation of skills, and certification through accredited assessment and certification bodies.
YOUTH SAVINGS
The Youth Savings intervention is implemented through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) under the Haba Haba Savings Programme.
As part of the Business Support intervention, a savings contribution is made on behalf of beneficiaries receiving business start-up capital, helping them build a culture of savings and long-term financial security.
