Thousands of young Kenyans enrolled in the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme are set to receive fresh support from the government after President William Ruto directed county governments to waive business permit fees for two years, saying new enterprises should be allowed to grow before facing the full cost of doing business.
The directive was issued on Friday during the release of the second tranche of NYOTA Start-up Capital funds at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, where the President announced a series of measures aimed at making it easier for beneficiaries to establish and expand their businesses after receiving government funding.
“I therefore direct the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council, working together with the county governments, to develop and implement a two-year business permit waiver for all NYOTA beneficiaries,” he said.
Ruto said the government has witnessed the progress made by many young entrepreneurs after receiving modest financial support, adding that it now has a duty to eliminate unnecessary hurdles that could slow down their growth.
“Having seen what these young entrepreneurs have achieved with modest support, the government of Kenya now has a responsibility to remove the barriers that still stand in their way. Success should never be constrained by unnecessary bureaucracy,” he added.
He maintained that businesses in their early stages should first be given room to become stable before taking on the full weight of licensing and compliance costs.
“Young businesses deserve the opportunity to find their feet before they bear the full cost of compliance,” he said.
The President also directed the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development to establish a national identification mechanism for all NYOTA beneficiaries.
According to Ruto, the identification system will allow beneficiaries to easily access government services, incentives and other opportunities meant to support enterprise development.
“I further direct the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development to establish a national NYOTA identification mechanism so that every beneficiary can seamlessly access government services, incentives, opportunities designed to support enterprise growth,” he said.
The President further instructed government financing institutions to create a dedicated growth product that will enable NYOTA beneficiaries to secure additional financing after the initial grant.
“I also direct government finance institutions, including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, the Uwezo fund, the Women Enterprise Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates and other relevant agencies to establish a dedicated NYOTA growth product. The first grant must never become the last opportunity,” he stated.
The latest directives are expected to reduce operating costs for beneficiaries, make it easier for them to meet business requirements and improve access to government-backed support as they expand their enterprises.
The announcement comes as beneficiaries prepare to receive the second tranche of Sh25,000 under the NYOTA programme, with the government seeking to ensure that the initial grant becomes the foundation for long-term business growth rather than a one-time intervention.