ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary (PS) Eng John Tanui has expressed concern over the low application response to the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project especially in the far-flung areas of Baringo County.
Eng Tanui who presided over a sensitization campaign on NYOTA project for Baringo County, noted that out of a total 7,106 applicants only 716 were successful leaving the county with a deficit of 646 slots.
He regretted that no single ward in the county managed to get the targeted 70 youth allocation per ward in the project by the government in conjunction with the Word Bank.
The PS was accompanied by Baringo deputy governor Eng Felix Kimaiyo and four elected leaders Joseph Makilap (Baringo North), William Kamket (Tiaty), Joshua Kandie (Baringo Central) and Musa Sirma of Eldama Ravine.
He called on stakeholders including administration officers and professionals to move with speed and identify all vulnerable youth in order for them to benefit from the program that seeks to provide Sh50,000 startup grants as capital to start and expand their businesses.
“We want to see our youth benefit from this program that will enable them access funding to start various businesses and opportunities as well as access to training and mentorship opportunities,” he said.
Eng Tanui highlighted the benefits of the project which he said apart from certifying skills of the young people, intends to link them to experts on job training.
The PS added that the government is committed in helping the youth to realize their full potential especially in this digital superhighway era.
He mentioned the engagement of digital global players like Facebook, YouTube and TikTok which are now becoming earning streams for the youth countrywide.
Eng Tanui while encouraging those who are already earning from their platforms to teach others said that the government is also running some programs which are aimed at capacity building them.
The PS at the same time urged the youth to embrace a saving culture in all the government projects that are geared towards helping them improve their livelihoods.
The four MPs who attended the forum resolved to unite and mount an aggressive awareness campaign across the six constituencies to ensure more youth apply for the NYOTA funds before the set deadline.
The legislators commended the government for initiating the transformative programme tailored towards uplifting the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and marginalized segment of Kenyan youth below the age of 29 years.
“This Nyota programme is timely as it helps equip the youth with requisite skills and knowledge on entrepreneurship and small-scale businesses. We urge our local youth to apply for the money through the available digital application platform which is transparent and accessible to all. You don’t need to know anybody to get the money,” they observed.
Makilap in his remarks called on the successful applicants to invest the Sh50,000 grant awarded in real time projects like bee keeping, poultry or even goat rearing.
“We call on our youth who will benefit from the money to identify viable and profitable ventures which are fast moving and able to generate income quickly. Don’t eat the money and disappear like what others did in the hustler fund,” the Baringo North MP implored.
He stated that such small-scale enterprises take a shorter period to mature and generate income compared to long term economic activities which are susceptible to market forces.
By Joshua Kibet and Benson Kelio
