MOMBASA, Kenya, July 10, 2026 — Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, today joined the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy and Sports, Hon. Salim Mvurya, and other Principal Secretaries during the NYOTA Project Second Disbursement Exercise for the Lower Coast Cluster at the Mombasa Showground. The exercise brought together beneficiaries from Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties as part of the Government's nationwide rollout of financial support under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project. The NYOTA Project is a flagship Government initiative aimed at empowering more than 820,000 vulnerable and marginalized youth across the country through entrepreneurship, skills development, mentorship and employment opportunities. The initiative supports the Government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and financial resources needed to establish and grow sustainable enterprises. During the second disbursement exercise, 5,746 youth from the Lower Coast Cluster are set to receive KSh143.65 million to support the growth of their businesses. Nationally, the exercise targets 122,203 beneficiaries, each receiving KSh25,000, inclusive of a KSh3,000 savings component to promote a savings culture among young entrepreneurs. The Mombasa event was held concurrently with the national launch at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, where H.E. President William Ruto presided over the nationwide disbursement through a live televised address. The event underscored the Government's commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through entrepreneurship, enterprise development and job creation. Prof. Abdulrazak reaffirmed the importance of empowering young people through innovation, research and entrepreneurship, noting that investing in youth is essential to building a competitive, knowledge-based economy and achieving sustainable national development.