President William Ruto has directed the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), in collaboration with county governments, to introduce a two-year business permit waiver for all beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
The directive was issued on Friday during the disbursement of the second tranche of NYOTA funding at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, where the President also announced additional measures aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and supporting the growth of youth-owned enterprises.
“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,” Ruto said.
The President said the government had a duty to eliminate obstacles that prevent young entrepreneurs from succeeding, noting that beneficiaries had demonstrated remarkable progress despite receiving modest financial support.
“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 said.
Ruto noted that start-up businesses should be allowed time to establish themselves before bearing the full burden of regulatory compliance, adding that the waiver would enable entrepreneurs to channel more resources into expanding their businesses.
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To further strengthen the programme, the President directed the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development to establish a national NYOTA identification mechanism that will allow beneficiaries to easily access government services, incentives and other enterprise support opportunities.
He also instructed government financing institutions, including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates and other relevant agencies, to develop a dedicated NYOTA Growth Product that will provide larger financing as beneficiary businesses expand.
“The first grant must never become the last opportunity. As businesses grow, they require larger financing, better equipment, wider markets and stronger partnerships. We as government must and will provide a clear pathway from start-up to sustainable enterprise,” the President said.
According to Ruto, more than 122,000 young entrepreneurs across all 47 counties are currently benefiting from over Sh3 billion in business support under the NYOTA programme, which he described as one of the largest coordinated government investments in youth entrepreneurship in Kenya.
The new directives are expected to reduce administrative costs, improve access to government services and unlock additional financing opportunities for NYOTA beneficiaries as they establish and grow their enterprises.
