By K, KNA
The training of 2,037 youth under the On-the-Job Experience component of the National Youth Opportunities towards advancement (NYOTA) Programme kick off in Kericho County.
The programme, which will focus on providing workplace exposure, socio-emotional skills and practical on-site training, is part of the first component of the NYOTA initiative, aimed at improving youth employability and access to decent work opportunities.
At the launch held at Kericho Teachers Training College, Kericho East Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Dr. Kibe Magata read a speech on behalf of Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs, State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, underscoring the government’s deliberate investment in youth skills and transition to employment.
In the speech, the PS explained that the On-the-Job Experience component begins with Socio-Emotional Skills Development (SESD) training which equips youth with discipline, work readiness, communication and teamwork before they are placed with master craftsmen and employers for hands-on learning.
He disclosed that nationally the On-the-Job Experience programme is set to benefit more than 90,000 youth across the country, with over 14,000 already engaged in the current phase, describing it as one of the government’s largest practical skills and youth employment interventions in recent years.
The Principal Secretary added that after completing the socio-emotional training, beneficiaries will transition into structured On-the-Job placements where they will gain practical exposure, receive mentorship from experienced master craftsmen and build confidence through real production and service delivery environments.
He emphasized that this blended approach of life skills and technical training is designed to improve long-term employability, open pathways to self-reliance and ensure that young people become productive contributors to their communities and the national economy.
At the same time, the County Director of Youth, Mr. Ratemo Joash, said the structured distribution of beneficiaries across all six sub-counties was deliberately designed to ensure equitable access to opportunities, with Belgut hosting 475 trainees, Ainamoi 400, Bureti 342, Kipkelion East 274, Kipkelion West 273 and Soin/Sigowet 273, a spread he noted reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive youth empowerment and balanced regional development within Kericho County.
Mr. Ratemo, disclosed that the Government had contracted service providers to implement the training, with the firm responsible for curriculum delivery, coordination of Trainers of Trainers and overall facilitation, while county and sub-county youth officers will provide supervision to ensure compliance with programme guidelines, accountability and quality assurance throughout implementation, He revealed.
He further explained that the service provider had deployed 82 Trainers of Trainers across the county to conduct hands-on training and mentorship, with Belgut engaging 19 trainers, Ainamoi 16, Bureti 14, and Kipkelion East, Kipkelion West and Soin/Sigowet each having 11, an arrangement he said ensures effective coverage, close supervision of youth and consistent training standards across all sub-counties.
Meanwhile, County Director of Youth Mr. Ratemo Joash explained that upon completion of the one-month theoretical and socio-emotional skills training, the beneficiaries will transition into five months of intensive practical attachment under approved master craftsmen and employers, where they will apply the acquired knowledge in real work settings while receiving close mentorship to sharpen their technical competencies and workplace discipline.
“The youth will be trained on hairdressing, electrical engineering, tailoring, plumbing, masonry, mechanics, welding, carpentry, hospitality and catering, landscaping, ICT, horticulture, barbing, baking, fashion design, refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as customer service and entrepreneurial skills, gaining hands-on experience under master craftsmen ” added Mr. Ratemo
Mr. Ratemo assured that upon completion of their training, the beneficiaries will be assessed and certified, adding national recognition to their skills and supporting facilitation into sustainable economic activities.
The NYOTA Project, financed by the Government of Kenya with support from the World Bank, is structured around four key interventions which include on-the-job training and work experience, entrepreneurship support, certification through Recognition of Prior Learning, and strengthened access to labour markets.