President William Ruto has emphasised that lack of formal academic qualifications should not bar young people from accessing economic opportunities, highlighting the government’s commitment to inclusive youth empowerment through the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Business Start-Up Capital programme.
Speaking during the third disbursement of NYOTA funds in Nakuru County on Friday, January 9, 2026, President Ruto explained that the initiative is designed to benefit young people who are often overlooked by conventional empowerment schemes due to limited education or incomplete schooling.
“The qualification of young people getting the NYOTA programme is not to have qualifications,” President Ruto said. He added that the programme targets youth aged 19 to 29 who have completed Form Four or less, explicitly excluding university and college graduates.
According to the President, this category of young people represents a significant portion of Kenya’s population yet has largely been ignored in policy design.
“There are already many programmes for the youth with certificates and degrees. However, we recognised that those without formal education also deserve government support,” he said.
The NYOTA initiative aims to unlock grassroots economic potential by providing start-up capital to youth-led businesses. The President stressed that the programme is not a handout, but a tool to create sustainable livelihoods, generate employment, and stimulate local economies.
President Ruto urged beneficiaries to invest the funds responsibly, emphasising that the government will continue rolling out similar initiatives to reduce unemployment and economic exclusion among Kenyan youth.
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