State allocates NYOTA programme Sh33b to tackle youth unemployment
GEORGE KAIGA AND HUSSEIN ABDULLAHI-KNA
With the support of the World Bank, the Government has allocated Sh33 billion to create and improve job opportunities and empower youth and women across all 47 counties.
Under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project, Cooperatives and Micro and Small Enterprises Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya said at least one million youth are expected to benefit over five years.
Speaking at the rollout of the program at Musingu Boys High School in Ikolomani Constituency, Kakamega County, Oparanya said the NYOTA program aims to improve youth employment, boost income, and promote savings among vulnerable young people by supporting them with incomegenerating equipment and appliances.
Under the KJET Project, at least 45,000 Kenyans — including at least 6,800 women — are expected to benefit through new or improved job opportunities.
The NYOTA program targets young people aged between 18 and 29, and up to 35 years for persons with disabilities (PWDs) across all 47 counties, aiming to address unemployment, enhance income generation, and promote a savings culture among the target groups.
The CS challenged youth to register under the program, saying they would undergo training before receiving funding to initiate incomegenerating activities.
He said at least 70 youth will be selected from each ward across all constituencies in the country.
Oparanya noted that the government is concerned about the high rate of youth unemployment but emphasized that there is now an opportunity to boost employment through entrepreneurship development.
“Many youths are suffering; they do not have jobs to support their lives. But under this program, we intend to enlist about one million youth to engage in entrepreneurship,” he added.
On the same note, the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Salim Mvurya, stated that the five-year project is building on the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP).
He said it aspires to create systems that sustain longterm opportunities for employment, earnings, and financial inclusion.
Mvurya emphasized that the youth are full of potential for innovation and entrepreneurship, urging counties to align their efforts and resources with the mission of his ministry and, by extension, the national government.
Speaking in Kwale County, he reiterated the national government’s commitment to equipping the youth with the necessary skills to thrive in the local, national, and global economy.
The CS said his ministry, through the National Youth Council (NYC), is organizing a series of WAZO youth engagement forums across the counties.
He said the forum aims to empower and reach out to the youth population, providing them with information, opportunities, and a platform for meaningful engagement.
NYOTA is a transformative initiative aimed at harnessing the potential of the country’s vibrant youth population.
A key component of the new project involves improving youth employability by equipping them with social and technical skills, apprenticeship opportunities, job placement support, and recognition of prior learning.
Other aspects of the initiative include expanding employment opportunities through e n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p development and support for social enterprises, promoting a culture of saving through incentives, enhancing financial literacy, and strengthening youth employment systems by building robust systems to support youth employment and project coordination.
“The WAZO program focuses on informing youth about government o p p o r t u n i t i e s , empowering them to build livelihoods, and nurturing their innovation and creativity,” he said. He said the WAZO platform ensures inclusiveness, allowing youths from all counties to access training and resources.