Ruto Orders Two-Year Licence Waiver for NYOTA Businesses as Youth Entrepreneurs Get Special ID
President William Ruto has unveiled a raft of new measures aimed at easing the burden on young entrepreneurs, directing county governments to waive business permit fees for beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme for two years.
The announcement was made on Friday, July 10, during the release of the second tranche of NYOTA funding at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, where thousands of youth beneficiaries gathered to receive additional government support.
The President instructed the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), in collaboration with county governments, to immediately develop and implement the waiver, arguing that promising businesses should not be held back by costly regulatory requirements.
“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 directive is expected to significantly reduce operational costs for young entrepreneurs who have received grants under the government’s flagship youth empowerment programme.
Government Moves to Remove Bureaucratic Barriers
Ruto said many young entrepreneurs had already demonstrated what they could achieve with limited financial support, adding that the government’s responsibility now was to eliminate unnecessary obstacles that slow business growth.
“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.
He added that newly established enterprises should be allowed time to grow before facing the full cost of licensing and compliance obligations.
“Young businesses deserve the opportunity to find their feet before they bear the full cost of compliance.”
NYOTA Beneficiaries to Receive Unique National ID
Beyond the licence waiver, President Ruto directed the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development to establish a national identification system exclusively for NYOTA beneficiaries.
The proposed unique NYOTA ID will enable participants to access government services, incentives and enterprise support programmes more efficiently.
“I further direct the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development to establish a national NYOTA identification mechanism so that every beneficiary can seamlessly access government services, incentives and opportunities designed to support enterprise growth,” the President said.
The identification system is expected to simplify verification and improve access to future government initiatives targeting youth-owned businesses.
New Financing Product Ordered
In another major directive, Ruto instructed government financial institutions to create a dedicated financing product specifically tailored for NYOTA graduates seeking to expand their enterprises.
Institutions expected to participate include the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates and other government lending agencies.
According to the President, the objective is to ensure that the initial NYOTA grant serves as the beginning—not the end—of beneficiaries’ entrepreneurial journey.
“I also direct government finance institutions, including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, the Uwezo Fund, the Women Enterprise Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates and other relevant agencies to establish a dedicated NYOTA growth product. The first grant must never become the last opportunity,” he stated.
Second Tranche of Funds Released
The new directives come as beneficiaries prepare to receive the second KSh25,000 tranche under the NYOTA programme, a government initiative designed to tackle youth unemployment by supporting young people to start and grow businesses.
With the licence waiver, unique identification system and expanded financing opportunities, the government says beneficiaries will enjoy lower administrative costs, simplified compliance requirements and easier access to capital as they scale up their enterprises.
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