Strategic Meeting to Advance NYOTA and KJET Youth Employment Initiatives under BETA
The State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs Principal secretary joined H.E. the Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, alongside Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Heads of Agencies, in a strategic meeting aimed at strengthening the implementation of key programmes under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The engagement focused on enhancing coordination, improving delivery efficiency, and accelerating impact across priority sectors of the economy.
Deliberations centred on two transformative initiatives the NYOTA Project and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project , both of which are critical pillars in advancing youth employment and enterprise development. These initiatives are designed to create jobs and income opportunities for nearly two million young Kenyans, with even greater reach anticipated through innovative implementation, strong institutional collaboration, and accountable programme management.
The NYOTA Project seeks to unlock the potential of young entrepreneurs by expanding access to affordable finance, enterprise development support, and market linkages. By equipping youth with practical skills, capital, and structured mentorship, the programme aims to nurture sustainable businesses capable of driving local economic growth. Complementing this effort, the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project focuses on strengthening productivity, catalysing investment, and reforming key value chains to stimulate large-scale job creation across sectors with high employment potential.
As the State Department for MSMEs, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an enabling business environment where micro, small, and medium enterprises can thrive. Our focus is on reducing structural barriers, enhancing access to financial services, strengthening institutional support systems, and promoting innovation-led growth. Through deliberate policy alignment and strategic partnerships, we are working to ensure that economic empowerment becomes tangible at the household level and that Kenya’s youth are positioned at the centre of national transformation.