Tertiary students ineligible for NYOTA programme, PS Susan Mang’eni clarifies

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni has clarified that the government’s National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme will not benefit college and university students.

Speaking in an interview on NTV on Tuesday, Mang’eni said the NYOTA initiative targets young people with limited access to education, employment and financial opportunities, adding that it aims to empower those most affected by economic hardship.

Mang’eni explained that the application process was conducted digitally through the Hustler Fund platform, using the zero-rated code *254#, to ensure equal access for all young people, including those using basic feature phones.

“We rolled it out digitally, and the reason why we’ve done it digitally is so that nobody says you must know someone. Here, it’s only your phone. And we leveraged on the zero-rated channel of Hustler Fund, which is *254#, whether you have a feature phone or a smartphone, you could still access it,” she said.

She revealed that out of 1.4 million applicants, about 300,000 did not complete the process, while 1.1 million managed to finish their applications. Among them, nearly 200,000 were college and university students, prompting the ministry to segment the program’s beneficiaries.

“At least 200,000 were college and university students. That’s why now we are segmenting this initiative. This is targeting those very bottom of the economic pyramid,” she explained.

The PS said the NYOTA Program is focused on supporting those at the lowest economic level, adding that other initiatives under her ministry would be developed to cater for college and university students.

“We are working out other initiatives that are now going to target college and university students, because even they need opportunities,” she said.

Mang’eni added that applicants who are not successful in this round will still be considered for future government programs.

“Even if they are not successful, provided you’re on that pipeline, now you are going to be in an ecosystem where we have other existing initiatives or new initiatives. We will always have you there,” she said.

She said the high number of applicants, including nearly one million during a recent short application window, demonstrates growing trust in government programs targeting youth.

“Recently, when we just opened this small window, we got almost 800,000. In one week that elapsed on Sunday, it was almost one million. Those who have completed are almost 550,000. That shows there is trust,” she said.

The programme’s first phase targets 54,000 youth for start-up grants, followed by immediate skills training. Nyota also includes mentorship, access to business infrastructure, and guidance to help young entrepreneurs grow sustainable businesses and create jobs. Beneficiaries will also be enrolled in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to save as they grow their businesses.

During the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations held at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, President William Ruto launched the National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Program. He said the initiative seeks to equip young people with skills, training, and financial support to promote self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

Ruto noted that the initiative targets over 800,000 youth aged 18 to 29 years, and up to 35 years for those with disabilities.

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• PS Susan Mang’eni clarifies

“It seeks to improve employability through skills training, on-the-job experience, recognition of prior learning, entrepreneurial development, and the promotion of a savings culture,” he said.

According to Ruto, the NYOTA Project leverages the Hustler Fund platform, which he said has already attracted over one million applicants for its business support component.

Ruto emphasised that it aims to support at least 70 youths per ward across the country by providing grant funding, business training, and market linkages. He said the government has committed Sh5 billion in grants to assist 100,000 young people, each receiving Sh50,000 in seed capital to start their entrepreneurial ventures by August this year.

The Hustler Fund, Ruto said, has supported over 25 million borrowers, disbursed Sh70 billion, and mobilised Sh4.5 billion in savings. He said the Fund has introduced a revolutionary credit rating system that is transforming access to finance for millions previously excluded from the formal financial system.

"The Hustler Fund credit rating system is designed to offer a fair and transparent assessment of creditworthiness. It serves as an alternative form of soft collateral for individuals at the base of our economy, the historically excluded majority who lack access to formal financial guarantees such as payslips, title deeds, or other traditional forms of collateral," Ruto said.