Lawmakers alleged favouritism in identifying recipients of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota).
During a heated session, they claimed that the process lacked transparency and sidelined elected leaders, who are better placed to identify deserving youth and women in their constituencies.
Several MPs demanded that the government involve them directly in the implementation of the programme to ensure equitable distribution of opportunities across the country.
Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba said most MPs have been kept in
the dark.
“The Nyota project is in the constituencies and members don’t know who is benefitting and who is not,” Omboko lamented.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo said up to 70 per cent of the youths who benefited from the project in his constituency were outsiders.
“I urge whichever state department is handling the programme to rethink the
entire process of identifying the people so that it only benefits the locals,”
he said.
The lawmakers further cautioned that without inclusive consultations, the initiative risks being perceived as politically skewed and could fail to achieve its empowerment goals.
“It is good that MPs are involved in this programme so we help in identification,” Maungu said. The programme, unveiled in August during the International Youth Day celebrations in Kakamega county, had been scheduled to start in September.
On Friday , after convening a high-level meeting with Principal Secretaries at State House, Nairobi, Ruto confirmed that the long-promised scheme would now begin.
“We are investing in our youth, unlocking opportunities and driving enterprise and innovation across Kenya,” Ruto said.
“This programme has taken time to align properly, but it is now ready to go.”
Launched in partnership with the World Bank, the fund will provide Sh50,000 grants to 70 youth in each of the country’s 1,450 wards, enabling them to start business ventures.
Principal Secretaries were dispatched this week to all 47 counties to meet governors, MPs, MCAs and grassroots leaders in a sensitisation exercise to ensure smooth implementation.
In addition to financial support, Nyota will provide mentorship, training and access to business infrastructure to help scale small enterprises and create sustainable jobs.
Ruto said the programme will also involve 90,000 youth, who will be trained to gain job experience, 20,000 on recognition of prior learning, and another 600,000 who will be trained on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities.
The President also noted that beneficiaries would be enrolled in the National Social Security Fund, giving them a platform to save as they grow their businesses.
With the programme now finally underway, the government says it expects the Sh5 billion fund to inject new life into youth enterprise, strengthen grassroots economies and address rising unemployment across the country.
