By E, KNA
The Government in partnership with the World Bank have sponsored Sh 5 billion National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) initiative, with funds set to be disbursed within the next three weeks.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Festus Ng’eno, said the government through the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) initiative was committed to empowering young Kenyans through entrepreneurship education and skills development, creation of sustainable employment and innovation pathways.
The Principal Secretary explained that the roll-out of the NYOTA programme by the State, was aimed at supporting over 100,000 young Kenyans with start-up grants, adding that each Ward will benefit 70 youths, each receiving Sh 50,000 to kick-start or expand their business.
The NYOTA program, the PS elaborated, will also target 90,000 unskilled youth by enrolling them in Technical Vocational Education Training Institutions (TVETS), where the government will cover their stipends.
A further 20,000 to 30,000 will undergo Recognition of Prior Learning, to certify existing skills, particularly in the Affordable Housing sector, added the PS.
Speaking at the Rift Valley National Polytechnic, where he launched the initiative, Dr. Ng’eno stated that the government was keen to fulfill four pillars of youth agenda, including entrepreneurship, skills development, labour mobility and digital innovation.
He indicated that the new nationwide NOTA Programme, was aimed at empowering young people who did not have the opportunity to further their education beyond primary school, as well as Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) and women.
Dr Ng’eno said the initiative targets 820,000 vulnerable youths across all wards in the country, noting that unemployment continues to affect many young people including refugees.
The programme focuses on youths aged between 18 and 29 years, while for PWDs, the age limit extends up to 35 years. In Nakuru County alone, over 2,000 households are expected to benefit from the initiative.
Dr Ng’eno emphasized that the NYOTA Programme was in line with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), a key promise made by President William Ruto, to uplift vulnerable groups and promote self-reliance among the youth.
He urged young people to seize the opportunity and work towards building strong credit profiles and financial discipline, assuring them that no one will be required to pay any form of bribe to benefit from or trade with the government.
The Principal Secretary added that participants will also undergo entrepreneurship and business skills training, which will form part of the qualification process for the programme.
Turning to youth empowerment, Dr Ng’eno highlighted the NYOTA Project, which he said equips young people with training, mentorship, and entrepreneurship skills.
“The government is helping youth create jobs, enhance productivity, and drive local economy,” he said.
He explained that the NYOTA Project reflected the government’s commitment to empowering young people to become agents of change in their communities by offering skills development and business support, which he added, would help the youth address youth unemployment and promote self-reliance.
The NYOTA Project, the PS added, gives youth the tools they need to innovate, build enterprises, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic growth.
“When we empower the youth, we are not just investing in individuals but also strengthening the social and economic fabric of the nation,” he added.
Dr Ng’eno reiterated that community participation and youth empowerment, remained central to Kenya’s social transformation agenda and called on County governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector, to partner in supporting ongoing reforms.
The program is built on the success of the World Bank-supported Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), which, over the years helped thousands of young Kenyans launch businesses, gain skills, and create jobs.
NYOTA aims to empower 800,000 vulnerable youths aged 18 to 29 across all 47 counties, by establishing 110,000 youth-led enterprises and certifying 20,000 artisans through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative.
It also aims to skill and connect 90,000 youths to employment, while training 600,000 on financial literacy and access to government procurement opportunities.
The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs, aims to address youth unemployment by equipping participants with the skills, experience, and financial support necessary to start or grow their businesses.
Interested applicants can access the programme by dialing *254# on their mobile phones, a simple and inclusive method that ensures accessibility even in remote areas.
Priority will be given to unemployed or underemployed individuals, including those working in informal or low-income settings.
Persons with disabilities, marginalized youth, and those from vulnerable backgrounds, are also strongly encouraged to apply.
The government has emphasized that NYOTA is entirely free of charge, warning applicants against falling victim to fraudsters, who demand payment in exchange for registration or placement.
Nakuru East Member of County Assembly Mr Stanley Karanja, noted that training youth in entrepreneurship before providing funding was essential for building sustainable businesses and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, as it equips them with the necessary skills in financial literacy, business planning, and risk-taking, thereby, increasing their chances of success and reducing business failure rates.
Mr Karanja stated that there was need to pair young entrepreneurs with experienced professionals, to provide advice, share experiences, and help them navigate challenges.