Lugari Deputy County Commissioner, Linet Orina, has appealed to potential beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project to wholeheartedly embrace its intent of transforming their lives.
Orina made the appeal yesterday at Lumakanda Salvation Army Church during the validation exercise of hundreds of selected applicants drawn from Lugari and Matete sub-counties.
She said the grants are meant to boost entrepreneurship and ignite innovation among the young population across the country and reduce the high unemployment rate.
She said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity the government is giving you to change your lives for the better going to the future. As youths you have a crucial role to play in the development of the country because you are still young, energetic, and educated despite a majority of you being unemployed.
She added, “Once you receive the grant, make sure you invest it wisely in income-generating activities that will transform your lives.
“Any legal business activity, regardless of the size, is welcome so long as it is able to earn you some income.”
Orina noted that the grants, if well utilized by the beneficiaries, will reduce the crime rate across the country, as many youths will be busy in their respective businesses.
Lydia Manono from the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority told the youths that the main aim of the grants is to empower them by ensuring they engage in income-generating activities that will enable them to grow economically.
She said, “This is a five-year project being run by the government, and the main aim is to empower the youth. We want to empower you by ensuring you start small businesses, and for those who already have, we want you to grow them.
“We intend to do this by giving each beneficiary a grant of Sh.50,000. In the next 2-3 weeks. By now each potential beneficiary should be having a business idea.
“Any business is welcome so long as it is able to generate income. For those who have not yet thought of a business idea, they need to do so in the next two weeks.”
Manono assured the youths present that all those who received a text message inviting them for validation will get the grant.
Lugari Constituency Manager, Rajab Mukolwe, told the youths that the NYOTA project is a very important government initiative aimed at getting them out of the handout culture and misuse by politicians.
“Had such initiative been there during our youthful time, we would be rich by now. The government has hence decided to give you a foundation to uplift your lives. Make better use of the funds by investing wisely and not engaging in drinking sprees.” He advised.
A number of potential beneficiaries who spoke to KNA lauded the government for the project, saying it will play a critical role in uplifting their lives economically.
Irine Kiule and Mercy Mwaisi from Munyuki sublocation said they intend to invest in their own hair salons after working in other people’s salons for long.
The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project is a five-year initiative run by the Government of Kenya and financed by the World Bank. It seeks to unlock the potential of Kenya’s youth by addressing unemployment, expanding income-generating opportunities, and fostering a culture of savings and entrepreneurship.
The project plays a critical role in advancing the country’s youth-led economic transformation agenda by empowering young people to become active agents of national development, innovation, and long-term economic resilience.
It targets 820,000 unemployed youth, aged between 18 to 29 years and up to 35 years for Persons Living with Disabilities with 70 beneficiaries per ward across the country.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
