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NYOTA project 2026: the KSh 50,000 youth grant explained

A government youth grant, not a loan. How much it pays and where the money goes, who qualifies, how *254# works, and whether a window is open.

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by Reviewed by Michael Mwangi 5 min read Updated 16 October 2026Verified 16 Oct 2026

What NYOTA is

NYOTA (National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement) is a five-year Government of Kenya project financed by the World Bank. It aims to reduce youth unemployment and help young people start businesses. Its business support component pays a grant after training. It does not lend money, so there is nothing to repay.

How much it pays, and where the money goes

  • KSh 50,000 in total, paid in two instalments of KSh 25,000, after you complete a four-day business training.
  • Of each KSh 25,000, KSh 22,000 goes to a NYOTA Pochi la Biashara wallet and KSh 3,000 goes into an NSSF Haba Haba savings account in your name.
  • New beneficiaries go through mentorship before qualifying for the second instalment.

NYOTA reported that 122,136 young people received KSh 3.05 billion in business grants in the tranche-two round. For those on their second instalment, that completed the KSh 50,000; new beneficiaries received their first. See our Pochi la Biashara guide for how that wallet works.

Who qualifies

  • Kenyan citizen with a national ID.
  • Aged 18 to 29, or up to 35 for persons with disabilities registered with NCPWD.
  • Form Four education or below.
  • Unemployed, underemployed, or in low-income work.
  • A SIM card registered in your own name and ID.

Meeting the criteria does not guarantee a place. NYOTA says eligible applicants are selected through a randomised process.

How applications work

  1. When a window is open, dial *254# and choose the NYOTA Project option.
  2. Follow the prompts with your ID details.
  3. NYOTA also uses an SMS business-readiness test: send NYOTA to 40270.

The first call for applications closed on 15 May 2025. NYOTA's tranche-two update says applications for all components are currently closed, and its FAQ says further windows may be announced through its official channels. We will update this page when one opens.

The savings part

NYOTA beneficiaries are automatically enrolled in the NSSF Haba Haba savings scheme, which is where the KSh 3,000 from each instalment goes. NYOTA says only the short-term portion, 30%, can be accessed after one year. NYOTA is not part of the Hustler Fund, and its savings do not go to Hustler Fund accounts.

NYOTA scams

The State Department says all NYOTA services are free of charge and beneficiaries are not required to make any payments. Anyone selling a NYOTA “slot”, a “form” or a faster payment is a scammer, and so is any message asking for your M-PESA PIN. In September 2026 news outlets reported a NYOTA alert that it does not use links to enrol beneficiaries. If a failed payment needs fixing, NYOTA's FAQ points to the nearest Safaricom shop, not to an agent.

Sources