Nairobi: More than 1900 youth Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operators in Uasin Gishu County have benefited from the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Business Development Services (BDS) training phases I and II. The training aims to enhance management skills, market access, financial literacy, and operational efficiency to drive growth and sustainability.
According to Kenya News Agency, key programs offered through specialized training centers cover strategic planning, digital marketing, and financial risk management. These programs provide actionable tools to scale operations and access funding. Speaking in an interview at his office, the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Northrift Regional Coordinator, CPA Alton Kogo, revealed that they have concluded the BDS II training across the 8 training centers spread across the six sub-counties of Soy, Moiben, Ainabkoi, Turbo, Kapseret, and Kesses.
The exercise, conducted from April 20th to 25th, trained over 1900 youth NYOTA beneficiaries in various areas, including entrepreneurial mindset, business model canvas, scanning environment for business opportunities, digital tools, marketing and branding, formalization, and compliance for enhanced financial access. Kogo noted that the beneficiaries engaged in businesses like salons, beauty and therapy, barber shops, poultry farming, and retail shops. He further urged the youth to be consistent in their business ideas and take full advantage of the skills earned through the training to ensure sustainability of their businesses.
The MSEA supports SMEs by strengthening linkages for MSMEs in Kenya, connecting them to markets, financial services, technology, and government opportunities to boost productivity and growth. The authority operates as a facilitator within the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), organizing MSEs into value chains to unlock market potential. The Coordinator indicated that they have already supported some of the NYOTA beneficiaries who opted for welding by sub-contracting and integrating them into larger supply chains, including the Affordable Housing Project (AHP) for supplying materials like window frames and furniture.
“They came together as business groups, and we have linked them to supply windows, steel doors to our affordable housing projects in Kidiwa, railway city, and Pioneer. This will go a long way to boost their income and transform livelihoods,” he said. At the same time, the authority works with national and county governments to harmonize policies to ensure the new businesses owned by NYOTA have a conducive environment to thrive.
“We do formalization and provide verification for NYOTA youth-owned businesses in order to benefit from the license waiver by counties. We also enable them to access government procurement opportunities and financial services like hustler fund, Inua Biashara fund, youth enterprise development funds, and others,” added CPA Kogo.
He praised the implementation of the Business Development Support grant in Uasin Gishu, noting that over 60 percent of the youth, after the BDS I training which was done before funds disbursement, confirmed opening common businesses like poultry farming, small-scale farming like vegetable farming, and shops among others.
“In order to boost their business capacities, we have introduced them to other government agencies like Kenya Industrial Estate (KIE), Women Enterprise Fund, Hustler Fund, and others in order to get additional financial help for equipment and other needs,” he said.
John Kiptoo Kimurgor, a PWD beneficiary from the annex area in Kesses, thanked the government for introducing the NYOTA project. He said after the first training focused on bridging skills gaps, enhancing management capabilities, and providing market access to foster, start up, and expand businesses, he decided to start a bakery business.
“When I received the first amount of Sh 22,000 from NYOTA, I used it to purchase stock and equipment for my bakery. Although the amount was not enough to sustain the business, I have applied for more financial support from another government agency, KIE, to boost my business and support my family,” explained Kimurgor.
