Kiambu County Director for Youth Affairs, John Mwangi, has raised concern over a growing trend among young people seeking quick financial gains from government programs without recognizing the long-term benefits attached to them.
Speaking to Kenya News Agency, Mwangi said many young people apply for initiatives such as the Uwezo Fund and the NYOTA program primarily because of the promise of money and lose interest in the programs once they realize money is not issued immediately.
“There is another challenge I have seen with young people. They apply for these programs just because there is a promise of money, not even bothering to understand what the program entails,” he said.
He cited the On Job Experience (OJE) component under youth funding initiatives, where beneficiaries are first taken through training before receiving financial support.
“When you start explaining what OJE entails, they tell you ‘we thought it was about money,’ and the following day, they fail to show up for training,” he added.
Mwangi therefore urged the young people to take advantage of structured government programs, emphasizing that long-term skills may offer greater economic stability than immediate cash grants.
He noted that women-led groups have shown higher uptake and repayment rates under the Uwezo Fund, compared to youth groups.
The Uwezo Fund, a national government initiative launched in 2013, provides interest-free loans to youth, women and persons with disabilities organized in registered groups. Beneficiaries must form a group, register with social services, open a bank account, and undergo vetting before accessing funds.
Loan amounts vary depending on group capacity and repayment history and start from Sh50,000, increasing progressively upon successful repayment.“
“You find women groups apply, receive the loan, repay, then qualify for bigger amounts. Youth groups sometimes disintegrate after a few months,” he said.
On the other hand, he expressed optimism about the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program, a national government initiative targeting unemployed youth with skills training, certification and structured support.
The program, launched under the State Department for Youth Affairs, focuses on equipping young people with market-driven technical skills such as plumbing, hairdressing and electrical work, alongside financial support upon completion.
“At least this young person becomes a trained plumber or technician. The skill is more valuable than the money,” Mwangi said.
Further, beneficiaries under the NYOTA program receive a grant of Sh25, 000 after completion of the On-Job-Experience training, with a deduction of Sh3, 000 directed to NSSF.
While on training, every beneficiary receive a stipend of Sh6, 000 monthly. Each month, a deduction of Sh720 is directed to their NSSF account.
By Rose Muthoni
