By D, KNA
The government has rolled out the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project in Isiolo County, but registration among local youth remains low, with only four out of the ten wards participating so far.
Speaking during a sensitization forum, Principal Secretary for Petroleum Mohamed Liban expressed concern that most of those who had registered were from the far-flung wards of Kinna, Garbatulla, and Sericho, while youth from the more accessible areas around Isiolo Municipality had shown minimal interest.
Liban said the sensitization meeting was necessary since the county’s response to the pilot phase of the government’s youth empowerment programme had been discouraging, particularly in wards nearer to the town.
The PS explained that registration and application for the grant have been fully automated, and eligible youth can now access the platform through the USSD code *254#, similar to the Hustler Fund.
They are required to select the NYOTA option to apply for business support funding.
According to Liban, the five-year initiative is supported by the World Bank and aims to empower young Kenyans by providing business skills, job opportunities, and promoting a saving culture.
The project targets vulnerable youth aged between 18 and 29 to help them increase their income, contribute to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and improve their chances of sustainable employment in key economic sectors.
He noted that the NYOTA project seeks to empower over 100,000 youth in its first phase through entrepreneurship and employment, focusing on young people who did not progress beyond Form Four.
Liban urged local leaders to mobilize youth to take advantage of the opportunity, revealing that each ward in the country is expected to produce 70 qualified beneficiaries.
Isiolo County is therefore required to enroll 700 youth across its 10 wards.
The PS assured residents that he would return on October 17, 2025, to review the county’s progress and ensure every ward meets its target.
Each successful applicant, he said, will receive a grant of Sh50,000 to support business growth.
The selection process will involve thorough vetting to ensure the funds are used for productive investments.
Liban added that the programme will support enterprises in sectors such as agriculture, digital technology, creative industries, and green energy.
The Sh5 billion NYOTA project, implemented in partnership with the World Bank, aims to benefit 101,500 youth from 1,450 wards nationwide, each producing 70 beneficiaries.