The government has unveiled a new youth empowerment initiative, the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, aimed at addressing unemployment among young Kenyans without formal academic qualifications.
The programme, which will be launched by President William Ruto on October 29 in Kakamega, seeks to provide start-up grants and training for youth aged between 18 and 29 years.
Speaking during a sensitisation meeting in Nairobi, Principal Secretary (PS) for Lands and Physical Planning Nixon Korir said the initiative targeted a neglected segment of society, particularly those who did not progress beyond primary or secondary school.
“There are many Kenyans who dropped out of Class Eight or high school and have never had the opportunity to access formal employment. This programme is meant for them. It is not discrimination against those with diplomas and degrees, because there are other government initiatives targeting them. This one focuses on those who have been left out for far too long,” explained Korir.
The PS said the recruitment process would be transparent, free of political interference, and anchored on a digital system that verifies applicants’ age, education level, and area of residence.
The government has set the allocation at 70 youth per ward across the country’s 1,450 wards, a formula aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of opportunities.
Applications are being processed through a free USSD code, accessible on any type of mobile phone, making it easier for young people to apply without requiring internet access or airtime.
Additionally, Korir emphasised that the system has been designed to eliminate fraud and political favouritism.
“The integrated system can detect applicants’ true age, education status, and even where they are registered voters. This ensures that someone in Nakuru cannot pretend to be from Mombasa. Anyone who tries will face automatic disqualification,” he cautioned.
The PS further stressed that the programme would be open to all Kenyans, regardless of tribe or background.
“When I served as MP for Lang’ata, I was elected as a Kenyan. Similarly, this programme is for every Kenyan youth who qualifies. Tribalism and politics have no place in NYOTA,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, participants at the Nairobi meeting raised concerns over harassment of small traders by enforcement officers and competition from East African nationals.
In response, Korir assured that licensed traders operating in designated areas would be protected from harassment, while urging local youth to seize the opportunity to compete fairly in business.
He also responded to suggestions about reducing licensing fees, exempting taxes, and encouraging group ventures.
“Our interest is that once you qualify, you get the grant, undergo training, and expand your business. You can even join forces with others to raise more capital. Nothing stops you from growing beyond the initial grant,” he remarked.
Similarly, the PS highlighted the importance of savings, pointing out that beneficiaries would be required to save at least Sh3,000, which the government would match with another Sh3,000.
“The aim is to inculcate a culture of saving so that young people can prepare for life after 60. With savings and grants combined, beneficiaries will have more capital to invest,” he established Korir.
Notably, the validation of selected beneficiaries will take place in constituencies on October 17, where local leaders will verify applicants physically before the official launch.
Consequently, Korir urged community leaders, chiefs, MCAs, and county officials to support the dissemination of information to ensure that deserving youth apply.
“We want to ensure that mama mboga in your ward, who has been struggling for years, gets this opportunity. Leaders must help spread the word, because the portal is live and applications are ongoing,” he urged.
Equally, the PS reiterated that the government is determined to uplift young people who have long been overlooked.
“This programme was designed specifically for those who have never had a chance. We cannot ignore them anymore. It is now their turn,” he stressed.
Concurrently, Dr. Caroline Kiende Kaua, Director of Business Development, Trade and Marketing at the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority, said beneficiaries would undergo comprehensive training and mentorship before receiving the grants.
“We are equipping the youth with both social-emotional and business development skills. Training will be coupled with mentorship for up to six months, linking beneficiaries with experienced entrepreneurs. After selection, training starts immediately, followed by disbursement of funds in a back-to-back rollout,” reported Dr. Kaua.
She added that the continuous mentorship was expected to help youth sustain their enterprises and reduce the high failure rate of start-ups.
In his remarks, Nairobi County Secretary Godfrey Akumali pledged full support for the programme, noting that the devolved government was ready to complement national efforts by waiving taxes and licensing fees for new businesses.
“We want to ensure that start-ups supported through NYOTA are not strangled by levies before they take off. Our proposal to Cabinet will be to allow beneficiaries to operate for up to two years tax-free, while still holding valid licenses for display,” he recommended.
In addition, Akumali disclosed that the county had already reorganised its administrative structure through borough managers, sub-county administrators, and ward officers who would work closely with the national government in implementing the programme.
In the meantime, the NYOTA programme, supported by the World Bank, is expected to be a game changer in tackling youth unemployment by providing grants, training, mentorship, and business incubation to thousands of young Kenyans across all counties.
By Naif Rashid
