The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program has directed all the shortlisted applicants to complete the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) ahead of the upcoming Validation Exercise Friday October 24, 2025.
The test aims to assess applicants’ entrepreneurial mindset and readiness, as well as the levels of intervention needed
To complete the test, applicants are urged to send the word “NYOTA” to 40270 and follow the prompts. They must use the mobile number used during registration. The test which is free of charge involves selecting a preferred language and answering a series of questions via SMS.
Each response is submitted by replying with the correct option number. Once completed, participants will receive a confirmation message.
According to Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs, all shortlisted candidates must physically show up for the validation exercise in their respective sub-counties. They must also carry along their original national identification cards and a copy of their pre-selection message.
The CS urged youths who are yet to receive pre-selection messages to exercise patience as the shortlisting process is still in progress.
“All pre-selected applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their respective venues and prepare to participate in this important stage of the programme,” Fikirini directed.
“To the applicants who have not yet received the pre-selection SMS, please be patient as the process of sending out messages is still ongoing, and you will receive your notification soon,” he added.
After selection, beneficiaries will be expected to attend a four-day business services training, after which they will receive Sh50,000 in start-up capital, disbursed in two tranches of Sh25,000 each.
Speaking on Monday, October 20, during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui, President William Ruto said the disbursement of the funds will commence from November 4, 2025.
The Head of State said the World Bank had set aside Sh20 billion for various youth-led initiatives under the NYOTA programme.
“We have Sh20 billion from the World Bank to give to our youth. We will be targeting 800,000 youths who will receive funding under different categories of the NYOTA project,” Ruto stated.
NYOTA, a youth-focused grant and training program, aims at reducing youth unemployment by offering grants, skills training, and business support to select young entrepreneurs.
The five-year flagship project, which targets 820,000 youths, is jointly funded by the Kenyan government and the World Bank.
The government says it is designed to support 100,000 youth across the country, with up to 70 beneficiaries from each of the 1,450 wards countrywide set to receive Sh50,000 grants.
Also Read: What is NYOTA program? Eligibility and how to apply for Sh50K gov’t grant
