Busia: The Principal Secretary for Economic Planning, Bonface Makokha, has urged the youth to embrace innovation and creativity as a means of creating more job opportunities and reducing unemployment in the country. Speaking during a sensitization forum on the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme in Busia, Makokha noted that the country continues to produce many qualified graduates from various institutions who cannot all be absorbed into the job market.
According to Kenya News Agency, Makokha highlighted the shrinking availability of white-collar jobs, stating that universities produce almost a million graduates annually, yet only about 200,000 job openings are available. This leaves nearly 800,000 young people without employment. He encouraged the youth to open their minds to technical work and innovation instead of waiting for white-collar jobs.
Makokha described the NYOTA programme, funded by the World Bank at a cost of Sh5 billion, as a game changer for youth who have lacked the capital to start businesses. 'NYOTA is designed to build the capacity of young people and give them the financial support they need to begin their enterprises. Business plays a major role in our country's economic growth. My call to the youth is to take advantage of this programme so that we can empower them to change their economic status,' he said.
The PS also announced that the government will introduce a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative to certify individuals who have gained experience through work. 'The youth will receive both training and capital to start businesses. We want 70 youth from each of the 1,450 wards across the country to benefit from this empowerment programme. As we move forward, we will also recognize those who have gained experience in fields like masonry, mechanics, building, and construction by awarding those certificates,' he stated.
Makokha further urged Busia youth to apply for the NYOTA programme, noting that the county recorded a very low turnout during the pilot stage conducted two months ago. Busia County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga said the NYOTA programme will give young people opportunities to create self-employment and foster sustainable livelihoods. 'When we multiply the number of youths qualifying from each ward by the number of wards in our county, we get a substantial figure of beneficiaries. If they embrace this initiative and get the right training, we will have taken a big step toward addressing unemployment and promoting self-reliance among the youth in Busia,' he said.