Nairobi: The government has intensified efforts to address youth unemployment by urging young Kenyans to enrol in the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program, a bold and comprehensive initiative aimed at equipping the youth with skills, resources, and support needed to create sustainable livelihoods.
According to Kenya News Agency, the five-year program, which forms a key pillar of the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), is designed to empower youth through hands-on business training, technical skills development, access to startup capital, and integration into the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) ecosystem.
Speaking exclusively to the Kenya News Agency (KNA), Acting Senior Enterprise Development Officer Michelle Aburili said the NYOTA program represents a turning point in the country's approach to youth empowerment. She described the initiative as a lifeline for thousands of young people struggling to find meaningful employment in an increasingly competitive economy, saying it seeks not only to boost employment but also to enhance income generation, promote a culture of saving, and foster long-term financial inclusion.
'The NYOTA program is here to change lives and offer a complete empowerment package, business development training, startup capital of up to Sh50,000, mentorship, and crucial linkages to markets and business support services with the goal to equip the youth with real tools for long-term success.' Explained Aburili.
Aburili called on young Kenyans to seize the opportunity and enrol before the deadline, emphasizing that the initiative targets individuals aged 18 to 29, and up to 35 for youth living with disabilities. 'The application window for the first cycle of the program opened on April 1 and will run until April 30, 2025.' Added Aburili.
The Senior Enterprise Development Officer further mentioned that the program employs a dual approach, combining entrepreneurial support with vocational and technical training in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, mechanical work, plumbing, electrical installation, and agribusiness, ensuring it caters to a diverse range of interests and abilities, providing viable pathways for both self-employment and entry into the labor market.
Master craftsmen in Kericho have already been identified and mapped out ahead of the rollout of the NYOTA program, according to Aburili who noted that the strategic move will enable the program to tap into the skills and experience of seasoned skilled artisans, who will play a key role in offering hands-on training and mentorship to young people.