Nairobi: Elected leaders in Makueni County have been urged to complement government efforts in sensitizing youth about the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme to ensure they benefit from the initiative.
According to Kenya News Agency, the call was made on Monday by the Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Teresia Mbaika, during a training session held at Wote Technical Training Institute (WTTI). She emphasized the need for leaders to actively engage and encourage young people to apply for grants offered under the NYOTA programme to help them start income-generating projects and improve their livelihoods.
Mbaika disclosed that the youth have a new opportunity to apply for the grants between October 6 and 12, 2025. The programme targets youth aged 18 to 29 years and extends eligibility to people with disabilities up to the age of 35. She explained that the extension of the application period was necessitated by the low number of applicants recorded in some wards during the initial call in April 2025.
The PS addressed Deputy County Commissioners, Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Members of the County Assembly, stressing the importance of community mobilization during the current application window. She underlined the need to increase awareness and mobilize applicants, especially in wards that recorded low response rates.
Mbaika outlined the three pathways through which the NYOTA initiative seeks to create employment and empower youth. These include on-the-job experience, recognition of prior learning, and entrepreneurship development. Each pathway is designed to provide technical and social-emotional skills, certify informally acquired skills, and offer business training and grants to young entrepreneurs.
Additionally, another 600,000 young entrepreneurs will benefit from Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO), enabling them to expand into sustainable markets and build a culture of saving.
Mbaika cautioned local leaders against politicizing government programmes, urging them instead to support initiatives aimed at empowering citizens. She highlighted the importance of collaboration to ensure the success of these programmes.
Speaking at the same event, Makueni County Commissioner Dancan Darusi praised the NYOTA programme as a guaranteed opportunity for youth empowerment and a practical solution to unemployment. Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili also welcomed the initiative, expressing the county government's readiness to work closely with the national government to ensure youth participation.
Also present at the event were the Deputy National Project Manager-Technical (NYOTA) Peter Muthini, Makueni County Director for Youth Boniface Muting'a, and other government officials.