The NYOTA AGPO Digital Training Programme was launched on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, aiming to reach more than 600,000 young entrepreneurs, women and persons with disabilities with skills for government procurement.

Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni of the State Department of MSMEs said the training is open to all NYOTA Project applicants and members of the targeted AGPO beneficiary groups, irrespective of age or formal education.

The free course is structured into five self‑paced modules delivered over ten weeks, with each module split into a two‑week cycle of coursework followed by practical sessions, including webinars and live interactive sessions.

Training materials are provided in both English and Kiswahili, and upon completion participants receive proficiency certificates to demonstrate their new capabilities.

Interested applicants can register by dialing the zero‑rated USSD code *254# and selecting the NYOTA AGPO option; an SMS with a link to the digital platform follows the registration.

The government, in partnership with Safaricom, will provide a subsidised data bundle to help successful registrants access the online training.

Applicants without a registered business or AGPO certificate will be linked to the Business Registration Service to facilitate sole‑proprietorship registration, with planned waivers to lower registration costs.

Why the training is needed

Section 53(6) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 mandates that at least 30 percent of government procurement be reserved for enterprises owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities, creating an estimated Sh300 billion of tender opportunities this fiscal year.

Despite a Sh4.8 trillion national budget and roughly Sh1 trillion in procurement, uptake among eligible businesses remains low due to limited awareness, complex application procedures and insufficient capacity to meet tender requirements.

Further support measures

Beyond training, the government is developing a debt‑offsetting mechanism that would allow AGPO suppliers to discount invoices within 60 days of delivery, helping small firms obtain working capital faster.

A recent Cabinet directive prioritises settlement of pending bills valued at Sh50 million and below, and catalytic funds will be repurposed to create trade‑financing products for young entrepreneurs accessing AGPO tenders.

Mang’eni urged all eligible youth, women and persons with disabilities to enrol in the free programme and position their enterprises to benefit from the expanded procurement reservation.