1. What role do politicians have in the disbursement of the Fund?
2. Must I have a business plan to access the loan?
3. Does the Fund give scholarships?
4. Can I borrow to do anything else besides business?
5. Do I have to be in a group to access the loan?
6. Must I have a bank account to access the loan?
7. This money has been allocated to young people. Why do financial intermediaries make a long list of requirements?
8. If I do not live in Nairobi where can I get information about the youth fund?
9. Where do I get the application forms from?
10. What is the repayment period?
11. Will financial intermediaries ask me for a title deed?
12. How do I access the youth fund?
13. Ask a new question.

What role do politicians have in the disbursement of the Fund?

Politicians have no role in the disbursement of the Fund. However members of parliament or their representatives sit in the community committees which disburse the C-YES loans. This is important to ensure that there is linkage between these committees and CDF which can allocate resources for training beneficiaries. CDF is also an important source of business for youth enterprises.

Must I have a business plan to access the loan?

For the C-YES loan you only need to fill the application form which is actually a structured business plan. It helps you bring out information that would be contained in a business plan. Many financial intermediaries will take you through an interview process and then give you an application form to fill. You are therefore advised to visit the financial intermediary before you embark on the business plan. However a business plan is the road map for any enterprise and is therefore an important tool. Entrepreneurs are advised to have business plans if when they are not seeking loans.

Does the Fund give scholarships?

Answer: The Fund is an enterprise development fund. It therefore does not give scholarships. Issues of scholarships are handled by the ministries in charge of education and their institutions such as the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

Can I borrow to do anything else besides business?

The Fund is an enterprise development fund. It will not lend money for other things such as charity or welfare.

Do I have to be in a group to access the loan?

You can access the youth fund as a group or as an individual. The loans that go through financial intermediaries can be accessed by individuals, groups and other registered youth entities such as companies and cooperatives. However for the component that goes through the constituency one must be in a group.

Must I have a bank account to access the loan?

It is important that you have a bank account to access the loan. The loan is deposited in your account. In addition a bank account is a good record of your business’ progress and this may help you when your financial statements may be required. We also want to encourage the youth to professionalize their businesses by using bank accounts. The account helps you separate business money from personal money.

This money has been allocated to young people. Why do financial intermediaries make a long list of requirements?

Whereas the money is allocated to young people it is not a grant but a loan. People applying for it must show ability to repay. You must for instance be willing and able to demonstrate that your business is viable and will repay the loan.

If I do not live in Nairobi where can I get information about the youth fund?

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has offices in all district headquarters and majority of divisional headquarters. You will find highly trained youth officers who give you information on all government youth programmes.

Where do I get the application forms from?

If you are applying for the constituency component, you can get the application form from the youth officer near you. You can also download it from this website or from www.youthaffairs.go.ke. If you are applying through financial intermediaries then you need not worry about application forms.

What is the repayment period?

The repayment period for the C-YES is one year with three months grace period. However the repayment period of loans taken through financial intermediaries depends on the amount taken and is agreed on between the borrower and the intermediary.

Will financial intermediaries ask me for a title deed?

Every effort will be made to ensure that securities asked for are flexible such as household items, guarantors etc. However the intermediaries have a responsibility to protect the money from fraudsters who would pick loans and disappear.

How do I access the youth fund?

You can access loans by approaching any one of the financial intermediaries in partnership with the Fund. You can also access loans through the Constituency Youth Enterprise Scheme (C-YES) where you need to be in a registered group. For personalized information on this second component please visit a youth officer.