The Government of Kenya has launched a new training programme under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, targeting at least 600,000 entrepreneurs across the country to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to access government procurement opportunities. The initiative, officially known as the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Digital Training Programme, was launched on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and is designed to empower young people, women and persons with disabilities to participate more actively in government tenders and grow sustainable businesses.The programme is part of the government's wider efforts to address unemployment, strengthen small businesses and promote economic inclusion by ensuring that more Kenyans can benefit from public procurement opportunities. Principal Secretary in the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Susan Mang'eni, announced the initiative, explaining that many eligible entrepreneurs have been unable to secure government contracts because they lack sufficient information about procurement procedures, business registration, tender preparation and contract management.

The new training programme seeks to bridge these gaps by providing practical lessons on how entrepreneurs can identify government tenders, prepare competitive bids, submit applications through digital platforms and successfully deliver goods and services after winning contracts. The government expects the initiative to open new economic opportunities for thousands of businesses that have traditionally struggled to access the public procurement market. According to Susan Mang'eni, the programme will also provide an opportunity for people who previously applied for other NYOTA components but were unsuccessful. This is expected to widen access to government-supported economic empowerment initiatives and ensure that more Kenyans benefit from available opportunities.

The announcement comes after the NYOTA Project attracted significant interest from young people across the country. Mang'eni disclosed that more than three million applications had been received for the wider NYOTA initiative, demonstrating the high demand for employment, business development and financial empowerment opportunities.Understanding the NYOTA AGPO programme

The NYOTA Project is a five-year government initiative implemented in partnership with the World Bank. Its main objective is to improve employment opportunities, increase earnings and promote a savings culture among vulnerable and unemployed young people.

The project brings together different government institutions responsible for youth affairs, employment, skills development, enterprise development and savings.

Its interventions include entrepreneurship training, business start-up support, workplace experience, skills certification, mentorship and access to markets.This arrangement is provided for under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, and is intended to give historically disadvantaged groups an opportunity to compete for public contracts.

However, despite the existence of this legal framework, many eligible businesses have not been able to take full advantage of the opportunities because of limited awareness and technical knowledge.

The NYOTA AGPO training programme therefore seeks to turn the existing procurement policy into practical business opportunities by helping entrepreneurs understand the requirements and procedures involved.According to Mang'eni, Kenya's 2026/2027 national budget is estimated at approximately KSh4.8 trillion, creating procurement opportunities estimated at KSh1.1 trillion.

Under the 30 per cent AGPO reservation requirement, more than KSh300 billion could potentially be directed towards businesses owned by young people, women and persons with disabilities.

The government believes that this market can transform small enterprises by providing them with opportunities to supply goods and services to national government departments, county governments and other public institutions.

Some of the opportunities available through public procurement include supplying stationery, food products, construction materials, furniture, uniforms, cleaning services, transport services, information technology equipment and other essential goods.The government also intends to strengthen efforts to address pending bills owed to small traders, including prioritising qualifying pending bills valued at KSh50 million and below.

Timely payment of government obligations is important because delayed payments can disrupt business operations, prevent entrepreneurs from purchasing additional stock and make it difficult for them to meet contractual deadlines.

The proposed financing interventions are therefore expected to complement the training programme by addressing challenges that arise after entrepreneurs secure procurement opportunities.The early response demonstrates the demand among Kenyans for practical knowledge that can help them access government markets and expand their businesses.

Interested applicants can register through the programme's designated USSD registration platform using the shortcode announced by the government.

The registration process is designed to be accessible without requiring airtime or mobile data. After completing registration, successful applicants are expected to receive an SMS containing a link to the online learning platform.

Individuals who previously applied for other NYOTA components will benefit from a shorter registration process because some of their details are already available in the project's database.These include workplace experience opportunities, recognition of skills acquired through informal learning, entrepreneurship training and business start-up support.

The business support component has also provided financial assistance to selected young entrepreneurs to help them establish or expand their businesses.

Under the programme, eligible beneficiaries have received support towards starting businesses, alongside training and mentorship intended to improve their chances of success.However, its success will depend on how effectively the government translates the training into accessible and fair business opportunities.

One of the major challenges will be ensuring that beneficiaries understand how to identify genuine tenders and avoid fraudulent procurement schemes.

The government will also need to strengthen transparency in tendering processes so that eligible small businesses can compete fairly against established suppliers.

Another concern is the timely payment of suppliers. Small enterprises often operate with limited financial resources, meaning prolonged payment delays can undermine their ability to fulfil contracts.

Digital accessibility will also remain important. Entrepreneurs in areas with unreliable internet connectivity will require practical support to complete the training.The government has previously explained that the initiative is being implemented across all 1,450 wards in the country, with different government agencies responsible for specific components.

The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), National Employment Authority (NEA), National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) are among the institutions involved in implementing different parts of NYOTA.

The World Bank is also a key development partner supporting the five-year initiative.

The AGPO component is expected to complement these interventions by creating a stronger connection between business training and actual market opportunities.