President William Ruto has announced the resumption date for the NYOTA Project verification exercise, a national youth empowerment initiative aimed at supporting young Kenyans across the country.
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations on Monday, October 20, he said the exercise would begin on Friday, October 24, in all constituencies.
"On Friday, October 24, in every constituency, we will verify youth who have businesses so that we can fund them to boost their enterprises, enabling them to contribute to Kenya’s growth and help eradicate poverty," he said.
Ruto further revealed that the government will begin releasing funds soon after the verification exercise concludes.
"In the next two weeks, we will start disbursing the money to the youth who will have been identified on November 4, so that we can run the programme and see how many young people can benefit from itt," he added.
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The Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development on Wednesday, October 15, announced the postponement of the NYOTA Project verification exercise.
In a statement, Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni said the decision was necessitated by the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
"The State Department for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development wishes to inform the public, all Principal Secretaries, elected leaders, all applicants of the NYOTA project and other stakeholders, that the national verification exercise scheduled for Friday, 17th October 2025, across the 290 Constituencies, has been postponed," she said.
Mang’eni explained that the ministry had taken into account the mood of the nation and the directive by Ruto declaring a mourning period until the day of Raila’s interment.
"This decision follows the untimely passing of the Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga, E.G.H., earlier today, and the Presidential Proclamation issued by His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya, announcing a period of national mourning from today until sunset on the day of the late leader's interment," she added.
Elsewhere, speaking during the same celebrations, Ruto announced an expansion plan that will see the government dual over 1,000 kilometers of major highways across the country.
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui County on Monday, October 20, the Head of State noted that the plan draws inspiration from the late Raila Odinga’s vision for Kenya’s infrastructure growth.
Ruto noted that Raila, who once served as the Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing, consistently underscored the role of quality transport systems in driving economic prosperity.
"Raila Odinga who also served as the Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing, often reminded me that no economy can flourish without world class infrastructure.
"It is in this context that we have committed to dual at least 1,000 kilometres of major highways including the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba road, Makutano-Embu-Meru road, Kitengela-Namanga road, Mombasa-Nairobi highway and Maroa-Nanyuki-Isiolo road among others," he said.
Beyond the major highways, Ruto revealed that the government plans to construct thousands of kilometers of new tarmac roads.
He said the project will not only enhance efficiency in road transport but also stimulate business and ease the movement of goods and people.
"We will construct an additional 10,000 kilometres of new tarmac roads linking counties, farmers, traders and manufacturers to markets across the nation and complete the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu and onwards to Malaba, seamlessly connecting Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC," he added.
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