The County Governments of Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, and Bungoma have jointly offered a two-year waiver of business licences for all beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project in theirdevolved units.
The decision is intended to ease the cost of doing business for the young entrepreneurs who are receiving a Kss 50,000 business grant to start and grow their enterprises.
At least 12,155 beneficiaries from the Western Cluster began receiving their first tranche of Ksh 25,000 Friday totaling to Ksh 267 million.
The announcement was made during a fireside chat hosted by MSME Development, Principal Secretary, Susan Mangeni, attended by among others Vihiga Governor Wilberforce Otichillo, Paul Otuoma of Busia, Kenneth Lusakaof Bungoma, and Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula.
The four governors pledged additional county-level support for the NYOTA Project, including access to County Biashara Funds, allocation of county government stalls, and opportunities to benefit from county tenders under the AGPO framework.
Speaking during the fireside chat, President William Ruto said the NYOTA project’s fully digital and transparent processes reflect the Government’s dedication to ensuring equal access to opportunity.
President Ruto said the government is undertaking the 100,000-kilometre digital superhighway and establishing digital hubs in every constituency to expand digital access and opportunities for young people across the country.
MSME Development, Cabinet Secretary, Wycliffe Oparanya, lauded the NYOTA initiative as a new wave of entrepreneurship that is reshaping Kenya’s economic landscape.
Oparanya encouraged county governments to continue collaborating with the National Government to unlock the full potential of the country’s youth.
The event was also attended by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi; Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya; principal secretaries, elected leaders, and project implementation partners.