NYOTA Project Transforms Lives: Over 110,000 Kenyan Entrepreneurs Empowered Through Mentorship.
PS State Department for MSME Development,Susan Mang’eni, addressing the media during the NYOTA Project mentorship briefing on 31 March 2026, in Nairobi.
NAIROBI, March 31, 2026 — The NYOTA Project Business Support Component has successfully rolled out a nationwide mentorship program, equipping more than 110,000 Kenyan entrepreneurs with essential skills to start and grow their businesses.
The Mentorship program launched on March 4, 2026, has reached all 1,450 wards across the country. It features site visits, business guide talks, experience-sharing sessions, cross-peer mentorship, and networking opportunities designed to enhance beneficiaries’ capacity to establish and grow businesses.
Speaking during a press briefing on the implementation status of the program, Susan Mang’eni, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for MSME Development, explained that the NYOTA Project focuses on early-stage entrepreneurs and provides guidance to ensure their success.
“The NYOTA Business Project is largely supporting emerging entrepreneurs at the early stages of their business journey. Our mentorship program ensures that every beneficiary receives the guidance and skills needed to succeed,” she said.
Mang’eni noted that the mentorship forms the third pillar of NYOTA’s three-pronged business support pathway, which also includes startup funding and classroom training. She highlighted that 94 percent of beneficiaries who received the first tranche of capital have participated in mentorship, with 98 percent already having started their businesses.
“By focusing on early-stage entrepreneurs, we ensure that support is timely and effective, building a strong foundation for sustainable business growth,” she said.
Most participants are first-time or early-stage entrepreneurs, with 65 percent starting their first business and 19 percent having less than one year of experience. Mang’eni added that the program equips beneficiaries with both skills and confidence to manage their enterprises successfully.
“NYOTA is empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs, ensuring that they acquire both the skills and confidence to succeed,” she said.
The mentorship program supports businesses across multiple sectors, including agriculture, livestock, forestry, fisheries, wholesale and retail, fashion, beauty and cosmetics, ICT, manufacturing, tourism, and transportation. Speaking on the program’s sectoral reach.
Mr. Henry Rithaa, DG/CEO of the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, emphasized the broad opportunities created for entrepreneurs.
“Our aim is to nurture businesses across multiple areas, giving Kenyan entrepreneurs a wide range of opportunities to thrive,” he said.
The mentorship deadline, originally set for March 31, has been extended to April 8 to allow the remaining six percent of beneficiaries to participate.
Mang’eni highlighted that completion of mentorship is mandatory before attending the second classroom training, scheduled for April 15.
“Every beneficiary must complete mentorship to benefit fully from the NYOTA pathway and ensure readiness for the next training phase,” she said.
Following the classroom training, each beneficiary will receive the second tranche of startup capital amounting to Ksh. 25,000, including Ksh. 3,000 in savings under the Haba Haba scheme by NSSF, bringing total support per entrepreneur to Ksh. 50,000.
Mr. Patrick Kamenyi, Component II Project Coordinator, NYOTA Business Support, explained how the phased implementation ensures entrepreneurs are fully prepared before receiving additional funding.
“This approach ensures that every entrepreneur is equipped with mentorship, skills, and funding to manage their business effectively,” he said.
Special arrangements have been made for beneficiaries in the Daadab and Kakuma refugee camps, who will undergo classroom training alongside host community participants in April and May 2026.
To support the program, over 3,600 trainers and 5,500 mentors have been engaged nationwide. Mang’eni concluded that the NYOTA Project not only provides financial support but also cultivates the skills, networks, and confidence that entrepreneurs need to thrive.
“We are committed to ensuring no beneficiary is left behind,” she said.
The NYOTA Project continues to reinforce Kenya’s enterprise development landscape by combining funding, mentorship, and skills training, empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
