NYOTA extends mentorship deadline as next training phase set for April

The government has extended the nationwide mentorship programme under the NYOTA Project, pushing the deadline to April 8, 2026, as it prepares beneficiaries for the next phase of business skills training scheduled to begin mid-April.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, March 31, the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development said the extension is intended to accommodate the remaining beneficiaries who have yet to participate in the mentorship programme, which is a mandatory requirement for progression within the initiative.

The NYOTA Project Business Support Component has been implementing the mentorship programme across all 1,450 wards since March 4, 2026.

The initiative includes site visits, business guidance sessions, peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities aimed at equipping young entrepreneurs with practical skills to start and grow their businesses.

The mentorship phase follows the disbursement of the first tranche of startup capital to 121,800 beneficiaries as part of a broader three-part strategy that combines funding, training and mentorship.

According to the update, 94 per cent of beneficiaries who received the initial funding have already undergone mentorship.

Of these, 98 per cent have started their businesses, while the remaining two per cent are in the process of launching their enterprises.

Programme data indicates that the majority of participants are at the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

About 65 per cent of mentees are first-time business owners, while 19 per cent have less than one year of experience.

A further 13 per cent have between one and three years of experience, with only three per cent having operated businesses for more than three years.

The figures suggest that the programme is largely targeting new entrants into the business ecosystem, providing foundational support to help them establish viable enterprises.

In terms of gender distribution, the programme has achieved near parity, with women accounting for 51 per cent of beneficiaries and men 49 per cent.

Sectoral data from the programme shows that agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries account for the largest share of enterprises at 41 per cent.

Wholesale and retail follow at 26 per cent, while fashion and design account for 11 per cent and beauty and cosmetics seven per cent.

Other sectors represented include ICT, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, as well as transportation and storage, reflecting a diverse range of business activities among beneficiaries.

With the mentorship phase nearing completion, the government has scheduled the second mandatory phase of classroom-based business skills training to commence on April 15, 2026, across all constituencies.

Officials emphasised that completion of the mentorship programme is required before beneficiaries can proceed to the training phase.

Those who have not yet engaged with their assigned mentors have been urged to contact their constituency NYOTA project coordinators.

Upon completion of the classroom training, beneficiaries will receive the second tranche of startup capital amounting to Sh25,000.

This includes Sh3,000 allocated as savings under the Haba Haba scheme by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), bringing the total funding per beneficiary to Sh50,000.

The second disbursement is expected before the end of April 2026, paving the way for a second mentorship phase that will introduce participants to the broader micro, small and medium enterprises ecosystem for continued support.

The programme is also set to include beneficiaries from Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, who will undertake their training in April and May alongside members of host communities.

In addition, the NYOTA Project has engaged more than 3,600 trainers and 5,500 mentors to support the nationwide rollout, while also extending opportunities to graduate-level youth participating in training and mentorship activities.