Government Rolls Out Nationwide Mentorship Programme for NYOTA Beneficiaries

The Government of Kenya has launched a nationwide mentorship programme under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project to support young entrepreneurs who received start-up capital.

In a project update dated 14 March 2026, the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development announced that the mentorship programme is now being implemented across the country following the successful disbursement of the first tranche of NYOTA Business Support startup funds.

According to the ministry, more than 5,500 mentors have already been onboarded to guide beneficiaries during the early stages of their businesses. The mentors will provide support through site visits, business advisory talks, experience-sharing sessions, peer mentorship and networking opportunities aimed at helping the new enterprises succeed.

The mentors have been assigned to beneficiaries at the grassroots level to ensure close monitoring and frequent interaction. Each ward has 84 beneficiaries, meaning the mentorship programme will reach entrepreneurs in all 1,450 wards nationwide.

The mentorship exercise is mandatory for beneficiaries who wish to qualify for the second tranche of the startup capital, which the government expects to disburse by the end of April 2026. The programme itself is expected to run until the end of March, after which participants will attend a three-day business classroom training focusing on skills development, market access and strengthening linkages within the MSME ecosystem.

Authorities emphasized that the mentorship programme is free of charge and is being coordinated by project officers working alongside contracted Business Development Skills (BDS) providers.

Beneficiaries have also been warned to remain vigilant against fraudsters posing as mentors. Officials said BDS centre managers will share details of legitimate mentors before engagements, and all business site visits will only take place during daytime.

All NYOTA beneficiaries who have not yet connected with their assigned mentors have been urged to contact their NYOTA project centre managers or MSEA officers for assistance.