The government has launched a nationwide mandatory mentorship programme for more than 122,000 young entrepreneurs who received KSh 3.06 billion in start-up grants through the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project.
More than 4,800 experienced business mentors have been deployed across all 1,450 wards in the country to provide practical guidance and help beneficiaries turn their start-ups into sustainable businesses. [Sources: State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy · Kenya Broadcasting Corporation]
Mentors Deployed Across All Wards
The mentorship programme is designed to provide beneficiaries with direct, practical business support rather than relying solely on financial assistance.
Each mentor is expected to work with a maximum of 20 young business owners, allowing for more personalized attention and closer monitoring of individual enterprises.
The mentors have been deployed across all 47 counties, bringing the programme closer to beneficiaries at the grassroots level. Participation in the mentorship sessions is mandatory for entrepreneurs who received the NYOTA support. [Sources: NYOTA Project on LinkedIn · TUKO.co.ke]
Practical Support for Young Businesses
The mentorship programme focuses on helping beneficiaries address the practical challenges that often affect new businesses.
Mentors will conduct site visits to assess how enterprises are operating and provide advice based on the specific circumstances of each business.
The programme also provides one-on-one coaching and counselling, enabling young entrepreneurs to receive guidance on everyday challenges, business management and decision-making.
Another important component is market linkage, which seeks to connect small enterprises with larger buyers and supply chains, potentially creating new opportunities for growth.
Beneficiaries will also participate in peer-learning activities, allowing young entrepreneurs to share experiences, challenges and practical lessons from running their businesses. [Sources: The Kenya Times · The Online Kenyan]
Moving Beyond Start-Up Grants
The mentorship initiative represents the next phase of the government's support after the disbursement of start-up grants.
The programme aims to ensure that beneficiaries receive assistance in managing and growing their businesses rather than simply receiving capital without continued support.
For many young entrepreneurs, access to markets, business knowledge and networks can be as important as access to start-up funding. The mentorship structure is therefore intended to improve the prospects of enterprises surviving and expanding over time.
Youth to Receive AGPO Training
The government also plans to introduce Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) training for NYOTA beneficiaries.
The training is expected to help young entrepreneurs understand how to participate in government procurement and pursue opportunities created through public tenders.
Access to government markets could provide an additional source of revenue for small businesses while helping young entrepreneurs expand beyond their immediate local markets. [Source: State Department for MSME Development]
Monitoring Enterprise Growth
The government plans to continue tracking the performance and growth of enterprises supported through the NYOTA programme.
The State Department for MSME Development will be involved in monitoring beneficiaries as they develop their businesses, with the aim of identifying progress, challenges and areas where additional support may be required. [Source: State Department for MSME Development]
This ongoing monitoring could also provide information on how effectively public funding is translating into sustainable businesses, employment opportunities and improved livelihoods for young people.
From Funding to Sustainable Businesses
The nationwide mentorship programme marks an effort to move NYOTA beneficiaries from receiving start-up capital to building enterprises capable of surviving and growing in competitive markets.
With more than 122,000 young entrepreneurs receiving support and thousands of mentors deployed across the country, the programme represents a major grassroots business-development initiative.
Its longer-term success will depend on whether the mentorship, market linkages and continued monitoring enable beneficiaries to overcome the challenges facing small businesses and translate the initial grants into sustainable enterprises.
Sources: NYOTA Project · State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy · Kenya Broadcasting Corporation · State Department for MSME Development · The Kenya Times · The Online Kenyan
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