Kwale: Cabinet Secretary for Youth, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, has announced the launch of the Sh5 billion National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program, which is poised to enhance social stability by addressing youth unemployment.
According to Kenya News Agency, the project, spearheaded by the national government and funded by the World Bank, aims to tackle the pressing challenge of youth unemployment through a multifaceted approach that includes skills training, entrepreneurship support, and mentorship. Mvurya emphasized that the initiative is a strategic move to combat widespread youth unemployment and its associated social issues.
The NYOTA program is designed to create sustainable job opportunities by equipping young people with practical, industry-relevant skills. The initiative seeks to improve youth employability, expand employment opportunities, and support youth savings through the National Social Security Fund's Haba Haba Informal Sector Savings Product. Additionally, it aims to strengthen youth employment systems, enhance entrepreneurship, and provide e-commerce platforms to ensure business sustainability and scalability.
Mvurya, alongside Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat, addressed attendees at the launch of the nationwide grassroots leaders NYOTA Sensitization Forum in Kwale. The forums aim to inform leaders and stakeholders about the 820,000 opportunities available for vulnerable youth aged 18-29 years across all 1,450 wards, facilitating connections with existing initiatives in business development and entrepreneurship training.
The active involvement of grassroots leaders is crucial for disseminating vital information and opportunities to the community level, ensuring that youth in every ward can benefit from the initiative. The NYOTA sensitization forum was attended by local political figures, including Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani and several Members of Parliament.
Mvurya highlighted that the core objectives of the NYOTA project include increasing employment opportunities, enhancing earnings, and promoting a saving culture among the youth. The project targets 820,000 vulnerable youth, including persons with disabilities up to 35 years old, offering various levels of education support.
The initiative also plans to support 100,000 youth nationwide, with each beneficiary receiving Sh50,000 for business startups. Additionally, 90,000 youth will receive practical skills training, while 600,000 will be trained on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO), an affirmative action program promoting equal opportunities for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Prof. Shaukat noted that the NYOTA project, which aligns with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), will run for five years, equipping beneficiaries with vocational, digital, and entrepreneurial skills. A key component of the project is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which aims to certify skills and knowledge acquired through informal experiences, thereby enhancing employability and productivity.
Local political leaders, led by Governor Achani, have welcomed the initiative, recognizing its potential to foster growth and development by expanding opportunities for young people. She expressed that NYOTA reflects a strong commitment to addressing youth unemployment and building a prosperous future for all, positioning the country as a symbol of hope, progress, and shared prosperity.