The second cohort of 5,901 youths from Lower Eastern region of Machakos, Makueni and Kitui have received their first instalment of National Youths Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) startup capital of Sh22,000, that is meant to help them start businesses and empower themselves.
President William Rutto who presided over the disbursement at Kenyatta stadium in Machakos, said that the total amount disbursed for Machakos, Makueni and Kitui is Sh147.5 million that targets 70-80 youths from every ward.
He affirmed that the NYOTA selection was transparent and fair without any corruption or brokers involved and promised to deal with anyone trying to extort money from the youths while ensuring all eligible youths are given a chance to participate.
“This programme does not require one to know any prominent person to qualify for the NYOTA funds and it aims at promoting the Bottom-Up Transformative Agenda (BETA), which empowers youths through training and mentorship while targeting those at the lowest level,” said the president.
Further he added that as a way of fighting corruption the government has digitised 23,000 government services to ease access of services to citizens without barriers and middlemen.
“Not everyone is capable, some don’t have education and we must give everybody a chance. That is what is meant by BETA,” added the president.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki pointed out that the money disbursed is meant for small businesses and to uplift those who have minimal or no education at all describing it as the real definition of BETA that is meant to make Kenya a 1st world economy.
Kindiki added that the money disbursed is meant to uplift those with small businesses and the naysayers claiming that the funds are too little should understand it’s not a loan and is enough for youths to start entrepreneurship.
“We are creating jobs and opportunities for young Kenyans so that they provide us with human capital that will help us transform our country through a knowledge-led, entrepreneur-led economic setup in our country,” added the deputy president.
Wycliffe Oparanya Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), urged the youth to take advantage of the money meant for business to be able to have a proper business startup that will generate profits and change their lives.
Principal Secretary MSMEs, Susan Mangeni informed the beneficiaries that there would be a one-month training and mentorship programme to help them understand running business better adding that the government would continue to support them in case of challenges.
“We will come to see how far you have gone in your businesses and we will be there to support you because this journey you have started is to make sure you become the millionaires and industrialists of this nation,” declared PS Mangeni.
The NYOTA Project is a World Bank-financed Government of Kenya initiative aimed at enhancing youth employability, enterprise development, and youth savings. It targets unemployed youth aged 18–29 years, and up to 35 years for persons with disabilities.
The launch was attended by Cabinet Secretaries Salim Mvurya (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports), Dr Alfred Mutua (CS for Labor and Social Protection), Machakos Member of Parliament Calen Mule, Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya and MP Kibwezi West Mwengi Mutuse among other government officials.
By Anne Kangero
