Government Warns Kenyans of Fake NYOTA Programme Notices

By Ken Muthomi - Reporter

Kenya, 29 May 2026 - The State Department for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises has cautioned Kenyans against fake notices circulating online regarding the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.

In a statement, MSMEs Development Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni said that the individuals purporting to be from the ministry have been issuing misleading updates online, purporting to provide information on the next steps of the NYOTA project.

Mang’eni has confirmed that the government is currently finalizing preparations for the nationwide disbursal of the 2nd tranche of the business start-up capital.

The department is set to release a comprehensive update on the way forward on June 2, according to the PS.

“We wish to assure all NYOTA beneficiaries and the general public that the Government remains fully committed to supporting young entrepreneurs across the country through this transformative project,” the PS stated.

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“In the meantime, beneficiaries are encouraged to remain patient, ignore unverified information, and continue building and strengthening their businesses as they wait for the second tranche disbursement,” she added.

The NYOTA programme was implemented to provide unemployed youth with training and business support through grants of up to Ksh 50,000. This programme also offers on-the-job experience to boost employment and financial inclusion across the country.

In the first phase, beneficiaries received KSh 22,000 through their NYOTA mobile wallets, and an additional KSh 3,000 was deposited into their NSSF savings accounts.

They were required to use the funds to start a business project, and if they show good progress, they will qualify for an additional KSh 25,000.

The programme, which is primarily funded by the World Bank, aims to support over 100,000 vulnerable youth in all 1,450 wards in Kenya.

Two months ago, the government conducted a mandatory classroom-based business skills training, ahead of the second batch of funding, which will see the beneficiaries get KSh 25,000.

The training started on Monday, 20 April 2026, and helped beneficieries address skill gaps identified during mentorship and strengthen their ability to grow their businesses.

99 percent of the beneficiaries engaged during the mentorship period in the first phase of the programme have already established their businesses, with the remainder still in the process of starting their businesses, according to the PS.