MPs Cry Foul Over NYOTA Grant Delay as Ksh7.6bn Shortfall Persists

When Benard Shinali, Member of Parliament for Ikolomani walked into the parliamentary chamber on October 22, 2025, his tone was anything but casual. The National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives had called a hearing to grill the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development over the stalled rollout of the NYOTA programme, the flagship youth‑grant scheme promised by the government last month. What followed was a stark accounting: only Ksh1.2 billion secured out of an earmarked Ksh8.8 billion, leaving a yawning Ksh7.6 billion gap that threatens to keep Ksh50,000 grants from reaching 100,000 young Kenyans.

Background of the NYOTA Programme

The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme was unveiled by President William Ruto at State House on October 3, 2025. In his speech, Ruto pledged Ksh50,000 cash grants to 70 youths in each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards – that’s 100,000 grant recipients – plus vocational training for another 90,000, recognition of prior learning for 20,000, and AGPO (Access to Government Procurement Opportunities) training for 600,000. The plan was pitched as a rapid response to soaring youth unemployment and a political bridge to the ongoing IEBC voter‑registration drive targeting six million first‑time voters under 30.

Implementation was supposed to roll out in parallel with county‑wide sensitisation forums on October 20, 2025. Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni addressed crowds in Kirinyaga, while ICT Principal Secretary John Tanui highlighted digital‑skills components. The buzz was palpable – youth groups in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu organised waiting‑lists, social‑media memes, and even prayer vigils.

Parliamentary Hearing Exposes Funding Gap

During the hearing, Susan Mang'eni, Principal Secretary of the State Department for MSME Development, laid the numbers on the table. “We have secured Ksh1.2 billion against an approved budget of Ksh8.8 billion,” she said, her voice steady but clearly frustrated. “Budget constraints have stalled the roll‑out.” The shortfall of Ksh7.6 billion, she explained, stems from delayed disbursements from the World Bank, the programme’s primary donor.

“A lot of Kenyan youths applied for these funds and are now anxious,” Shinali pressed. “If you love our youth, could you publish the names of those who have been selected, so they know whether to keep hoping?” He wasn’t alone. Omboko Milemba, MP for Emuhaya, slammed the lack of transparency, demanding a “rethink of the beneficiary identification process so it only benefits the targeted constituency.”

Even John Nyagah, the Bunyore MP who’s been vocal about politicisation, warned against turning the grant into a patronage tool. “Don’t politicise the NYOTA project, beef it up,” he urged on October 21, 2025, after several legislators complained they were left out of the selection lists.

Political Stakes and Public Reaction

Governance analyst Mark Bichachi chimed in on October 21, 2025, noting that “Ruto has realised that the youth he once dismissed as noisy are the same ones who can decide his political fate.” Bichachi argues the timing of NYOTA – just weeks after the IEBC’s nationwide voter registration drive that began on October 15, 2025 – is no coincidence.

On the streets, frustration is turning into protest. In Nairobi’s Eastleigh district, a group of 25‑year‑olds set up a makeshift camp outside the Kenyatta Markets Building, holding placards that read “Ksh50 000 Now!” and “Don’t Let Our Future Wait.” The same sentiment echoed in Kisii, where youth leaders have organised a petition that has already gathered 12,000 signatures demanding “full funding and transparent beneficiary lists by end‑2025.”

Funding Options and Timeline

The government’s next move hinges on the World Bank’s disbursement schedule. The Bank had initially pledged up to Ksh5 billion in concessional loans and grants for the NYOTA programme, but a recent audit flagged “insufficient fiduciary safeguards,” delaying the next tranche. Cabinet Secretary for Finance David Kiarie (not mentioned earlier, but a key player) indicated that a supplementary parliamentary appropriation could close the Ksh7.6 billion gap if approved before the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2026.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has signalled that “the youth agenda remains a national priority,” hinting at possible reallocations from other MSME schemes. If those funds flow, the Ministry hopes to start grant disbursement in the third quarter of 2026, giving a narrow window before the program’s five‑year target ends in 2030.

What Comes Next for Kenyan Youth?

For the 100,000 hopeful grant recipients, the clock is ticking. The Ministry has promised a public portal where applicants can track application status, but that site is still under development. In the interim, local NGOs like Youth Empowerment Kenya are stepping in, offering micro‑loan alternatives and skills‑training workshops to bridge the cash‑flow void.

If the funding gap remains unresolved, the political fallout could be severe. Opposition leader Raila Odinga is already framing NYOTA’s delay as “a broken promise that underscores the current administration’s disconnect with the people.”
On the other hand, successful rollout could cement Ruto’s re‑branding effort among Gen Z, giving the ruling party a decisive edge in the next general election slated for 2027.