RAYMOND OMOLLO: Nyota — Empowering Kenya’s youth is securing the nation

Security in our time is no longer defined only by armies, patrols or surveillance systems. True security begins in the hearts of citizens; it is measured by dignity, hope and stability within communities. Lasting peace is never simply enforced. It is built when people are given a reason to protect it. National security, therefore, is not just the preserve of uniformed forces; it is the pivot upon which prosperity and the welfare of any nation rest.

The roots of insecurity are not hidden. Research and lived experience show that instability is born of frustration and exclusion. When needs remain unfulfilled and opportunities denied, resentment brews.

Political and economic exclusion, poverty, inequity, exploitation and disease are not only social challenges; they are triggers of unrest. For years, youth unemployment and underemployment have compounded these pressures, making young people especially vulnerable. Disillusioned youth become easy targets for extremist recruiters, criminal gangs, and political manipulation.

Kenya has long faced this dilemma. For every promise of jobs, too many youth have remained trapped in cycles of uncertainty. But today, a shift is underway—a bold effort to confront insecurity at its root by addressing the vulnerabilities that fuel it. The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) is not just a jobs programme; it is a rethinking of how we define both security and prosperity.

Nyota transforms vulnerability into value and restlessness into responsibility. By creating structured pathways for over 820,000 young Kenyans, the programme is turning insecurity into inclusion. Already, more than 1.4 million youth have applied through the 254# platform. This is not the reaction of a disengaged generation. It is proof that Kenya’s youth are hungry for credible opportunities.

A boda boda operator in Kisii applying to gain skills, a young mother in Kilifi saving through the programme or a refugee apprentice in Turkana finding access to training—these are powerful reminders that our youth are not apathetic. They are waiting for a system that recognises their worth.

The power of Nyota lies in its design. Young people are attached to workplaces where they learn on the job, earn income and gain both technical and behavioural skills. Beyond productivity, these attachments instil discipline, teamwork and resilience – values that strengthen communities. A Labour Market Observatory ensures that training matches real demand, linking talent to employment opportunities at home and abroad.

Entrepreneurship support deepens this empowerment by equipping youth with training, mentorship and start-up capital. Already, over 46,000 applicants have completed entrepreneurship tests and thousands are in pilot training.

A tailoring shop in Kakamega, a solar technician in Turkana, a repair garage in Busia – these are not just businesses; they are hubs of stability. Each enterprise becomes a deterrent to crime, a source of dignity and a wellspring of resilience. Empowered youth not only sustain themselves; they employ others, anchor families and strengthen communities.

Perhaps the most transformative dimension is savings and financial inclusion. More than 1.1 million youth are being enrolled into the National Social Security Fund through auto-enrolment and digital deductions. A 2:1 matching incentive, capped at Sh6,000, rewards consistent saving.

For the first time, many young people are not living day to day but building habits of foresight. Women are supported through a Maternity Income Replacement Benefit, ensuring that motherhood does not disrupt their stability. A culture of saving turns youth into stabilisers. When they plan, invest, and build, they become the backbone of society’s security.

Philosophically, Nyota is not merely a youth initiative; it is a security strategy. It complements policing and counter-extremism by addressing the economic root causes of conflict. It gives young people a stake in the nation’s success, ensuring peace is not imposed but embraced. It aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, translating policy into protection and opportunity into order.

Community validation forums anchor the programme locally. By bringing together National Government Administration Officers, MPs, MCAs and county officials, Nyota makes selection transparent and participatory. These forums give life to Article 10 of the constitution, where governance is grounded in fairness and inclusion. Dialogue builds trust, and trust itself is the fabric of security.

The truth is that lasting peace cannot be achieved only through surveillance and patrols. It must be built from the bottom up, through opportunity, fairness and belonging.

A young person with a payslip, a savings plan or a small enterprise is not a threat; he is a protector. A young woman with mentorship and capital is not vulnerable; she is a builder. When youth have hope, they safeguard their homes. When they have dignity, they defend their country.

Kenya stands at a crossroads. Traditional security responses – our police, our intelligence services, our defence forces – remain indispensable in protecting our people. But lasting peace cannot rest on enforcement alone. It must be complemented by prevention: addressing the root causes that fuel vulnerability and unrest.

That is where Nyota comes in. It is a bet on inclusive security – recognising that safety is sustained not only by patrols and prosecutions, but also by fairness, dignity and opportunity. From the artisan in Busia to the fisherfolk in Homa Bay, from the student in Eldoret to the boda boda operator in Kisii, Nyota is replacing vulnerability with vision and dependency with drive.