Meru and Embu Governors Waive Business Licences for Youth Entrepreneurs
Meru, 23 January 2026
Two county governors are eliminating licensing fees for young entrepreneurs receiving government grants, potentially saving thousands of pounds in startup costs. Governor Eric Mutuma of Meru and Governor Cecily Mbarire of Embu announced the waivers during a presidential event on 22 January, specifically targeting NYOTA Programme beneficiaries.
Strategic County Competition for Youth Investment
The announcements represent a calculated effort by Mount Kenya East governors to attract young entrepreneurs to establish businesses within their jurisdictions. Governor Mutuma explicitly framed NYOTA Programme recipients as ‘investors’, stating: “Here in Meru, I will ensure that all ventures started under NYOTA will not be subjected to any licence fees. As the county government, we will pay the licences for you” [2]. This positioning reflects a broader economic strategy where counties compete for entrepreneurial talent and the associated economic multiplier effects.
NYOTA Programme’s Expanding Reach
The county-level support comes as the NYOTA Programme accelerates its national rollout, having already distributed substantial grants across Kenya. Between 8 January and 15 January 2026, the programme disbursed over £5.2 million across multiple regions: North Rift received KSh 200 million, South Rift KSh 245.6 million, Central KSh 173.2 million, North Eastern KSh 103.9 million, and Eastern KSh 147.5 million [3]. The programme targets youth who did not progress beyond Form Four education, addressing a critical gap in Kenya’s economic inclusion strategy [3].
Broader Economic Development Strategy
The licensing fee waivers represent part of a wider trend among Kenyan counties to support NYOTA beneficiaries. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced a two-year waiver on business licence fees for NYOTA beneficiaries on 26 January 2026, whilst Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku pledged allocation of market stalls [3]. These coordinated efforts suggest a national strategy to maximise the economic impact of youth entrepreneurship funding through reduced regulatory barriers.