OPRAH NYABOKE: Government takes youth empowerment a notch higher

OPRAH NYABOKE/HANDOUT

In every corner of Kenya, from the bustling cities to the most remote villages, one thing remains constant; our youth are brimming with untapped potential, bold ideas and unstoppable energy.

Empowering them isn’t just a choice but a necessity for any nation that dreams of a brighter, more inclusive future. Youth empowerment goes beyond giving opportunities. It is about building a generation that is equipped, inspired and ready to lead.

President William Ruto’s administration has made youth empowerment a cornerstone of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), with a clear focus on creating opportunities, supporting innovation, and building a future where young people are not left behind but lead from the front.

Through innovative programs and hands-on projects, the government is not just speaking empowerment, it is delivering it. In a world where skills, experience and opportunity often determine success, too many young Kenyans still find themselves left out though qualified, ambitious, but with no door open to step through.

The government is encouraging the youth to join the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), a bold and strategic youth empowerment program under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), designed to change their narrative for good.

‘Nyota’ is a Swahili word that means star, and true to its name, the initiative is about helping young people to shine.

With a focus on equipping, engaging and empowering the youth through paid internships, mentorship, and skill-building, NYOTA is not just offering a lifeline, it is offering a launchpad.

Every year, approximately 50,000 young Kenyans graduate from universities, colleges, and technical institutions, but many face the same challenge which is lack of experience.

A report by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), titled Vocational Education and Training Graduates- Challenges in Practical Skills to the Job Market, shows that approximately 2.3 million youth are unemployed while others are in roles that are not aligned with their qualifications, further exacerbating the challenge.

Financed by the World Bank, NYOTA reflects the government’s firm commitment to address youth unemployment through practical, inclusive and result-oriented intervention to empower Kenyan youth through skills development and certification, work experience, entrepreneurship and savings.

Building on the success of the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), NYOTA seeks to reach over 820,000 vulnerable young people including the youth in marginalized areas.

In a bold and commendable move, NYOTA has extended its reach to refugee communities in counties like Garissa and Turkana, where young people often face compounded barriers to opportunity due to displacement, limited access to education and social exclusion.

By opening doors to mentorship and skills training for refugee youth, NYOTA is not just ticking an inclusion box, it is reshaping the future of young people who might otherwise remain on the fringes of national development. These efforts are creating a more equitable society, where all youth regardless of origin can contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s growth story.

NYOTA is a multi-dimensional empowerment program carefully designed to meet the diverse needs of Kenya’s youth. At its core is a commitment to improving youth employability, not just by creating job openings, but by preparing young people to thrive in them.

Through structured training, NYOTA equips participants with both technical skills relevant to their fields and socio-emotional skills such as communication, teamwork, time management and resilience. This holistic approach ensures that youth are not only qualified on paper, but also ready to succeed in real-world work environments.

The program acknowledges Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which certifies the skills of individuals who have gained expertise outside of formal education, whether through on-the-job experience, apprenticeships or self-taught work. This is a game-changer for thousands of youth in the informal sector who possess valuable skills but lack formal certification.

Through RPL, 20,000 youth are finally able to compete fairly in the labor market, access better opportunities, or even pursue further training and specialization.

The program also leverages technology and data through the Labour Market Information System (LMIS), which gives youth access to real-time labour market trends. This digital platform helps them make informed decisions about what courses to take, what industries are hiring and which careers are emerging.

By aligning their training with current market needs, youth can avoid the mismatch between education and employment that has long plagued Kenya’s job market. Another component is increasing employment opportunities in which youth with viable business ideas receive start-up capital and business development training to grow sustainable enterprises.

Each eligible youth selected for this component receives Sh50,000 as seed capital. This amount is disbursed in two installments of Sh25,000 each, typically following the successful completion of required training and mentorship sessions.

To access this grant, an eligible youth aged between 18 and 29 years and to 35 years for persons with disabilities must apply via the official NYOTA platform via USSD *254# during an open application window.

The applicant must also be a Kenyan citizen and must have completed up to form four to meet the requirements. Selected applicants, majorly 70 youth in each ward of the 1,450 wards in the country, undergo a short business services training, often 4 days and mentorship sessions.

After completing the training and passing an Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT), they receive the first tranche of capital of Sh25,000. The second tranche is released after they fulfill any further requirements; mentorship, business plan or progress checks as prescribed. Since the program’s approval by the Cabinet on 29th July 2025 as a youth empowerment program and launched during International Youth Day in August 12, 2025 in Kakamega County, the government has put in place initiatives to ensure the program reaches every youth in the most interior villages of the country.

Stakeholders have been asked to continue with sensitization in every county, every community and to every young person who dreams of a better future.

Following the same, President Ruto asked all Principal Secretaries to align implementation with a youth engagement bringing together political leaders across the country, including governors, MPs, Members of County Assemblies and National Government Administration officials at the counties ensuring all the required information gets to the interior and beyond.

Additionally, the government has asked those preselected to attend and fully participate in sessions organized by the counties to avoid loss of the Sh50,000 start-up capital. In every generation, there comes a moment when potential meets opportunity and for the Kenyan youth, NYOTA is that moment.

More than just a program, NYOTA is a bold statement that the dreams of young people matter and that with the right support, they can shape the future of this nation.

By offering skills, mentorship, real work experience and startup capital, NYOTA is not simply handing out resources, it is building confidence, restoring dignity and creating pathways for young people to succeed on their own terms.

From the refugee camps of Turkana to the rural wards of Garissa, NYOTA is reaching youth where they are and giving them the tools to rise. And as thousands of young Kenyans take their first steps into employment, business and leadership through this initiative, one thing is clear, when youth are empowered, communities thrive, families grow stronger and the country moves forward. The stars are aligning for Kenya’s youth and with NYOTA, they are finally being given the chance to shine.

OGS: Oprah Nyaboke works at the Office of Government Spokesperson.