The National Government in collaboration with World Bank has allocated Sh20 billion for youth empowerment.
The government targets to reach about 820,000 youths across the country to benefit from the funds.
This was disclosed by the National Project Manager, Augustine Mayabi, adding that the government has designed a five-year training programme referred to as National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA).
He was speaking yesterday in Mt Elgon Sub County, Bungoma County while addressing the first cohort after a four-day training disclosing that the project is going to target youths between 18-29 years and for with persons living with disability ages18-35 years.
Mayabi added that the beneficiaries of the programme will be form four leavers and below who are unemployed or with low incomes in rural areas and informal settlement.
He affirmed that the NYOTA programme will cut across all the 47 counties targeting vulnerable youths with a target of approximately 70 youths per ward.
In Bungoma County approximately 3,150 youths are expected to benefit from the programme in the first cohort.
Mayabi revealed that the Implementation of the project will be spearheaded by multi-agency committee that will include Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), National Employment Authority (NEA), National Industrial Training Authority(NITA), State Department of Youth Affairs & Creative Economy, National Social Security Fund(NSSF) and Counties government.
The national project manager indicated that MSEA will train youths on self-employment and how to increase earnings through entrepreneurship.
“This will enable them come up with their own businesses and grow financially.
He added that NSSF will also take them through the importance of promoting saving culture among the youth.
Mayabi said that the savings will help them during their retirement period.
According to the National Project Communication officer, John Kariuki, NITA will examine the beneficiaries to recognize there prior learning so that informal skills are officially certified.
Kariuki said there is need to build stronger youth employment systems including coordination, monitoring as well as expansion of accessibility to opportunities.
“These include digital skills, procurement opportunities and involving county governments,” he noted.
Cliff Agwata, an officer from MSEA cautioned beneficiaries from misusing the funds stating that there will close monitoring and periodical evaluation.
Agwata urged the youths in the programme to consult where necessary to ensure that they benefit.
He also encouraged youths with similar business ideas to form groups also to benefit from other government institutions namely Uwezo fund, youth enterprise fund and women enterprise fund.
Agwata warned that the funds should not lead to family break-ups but rather improve the livelihoods and expand their economic opportunities for a better future.
He reiterated that NYOTA is a government’s strategy agenda to implement the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation.
Oliver Kipruto, a beneficiary of the programme applauded the government led by President William Ruto, for the initiative stating that it will not only offer self-employment locally but also international job market.
Kipruto said that the programme will be a relieve to the unemployed youths, as well as to the vulnerable segments of the society especially persons living with disability.
He urged the fellow youths who are beneficiaries of the programme to work hard so that after six months the can serve as an example to others and produce successful stories of the programme.
Mayabi called upon the youths who qualified and missed to turn up for the first cohort training to report to the nearest youth office to be considered in the second cohort training.
He also confirmed that the five year programme will officially be launched in October 17 2025 at Mumias Sports Complex by President Ruto.
He added that after the launch all the beneficiaries across the country will receive Sh25,000 whereby Sh3000 will be there savings while Sh22,000 will be for business startup.
Mayabi called upon youths across the country who are beneficiaries of the programme to embrace it positively for economic development.
By Douglas Mudambo
